BBC Live: South East news

Summary

The QEII Bridge at the Dartford Crossing has been reopened between junctions 31 and 1A on the M25. There are still long delays in Essex and Kent.
Britain is to accept more migrants from Calais - particularly children on their own - as part of a new deal with France.
A key vote on jobs, homes and new businesses in Thanet will take place tonight - amid a bitter row over the future of Manston Airport.
News, sport, weather and travel updates for the South East of England

Live Reporting

Attack leaves victim unconscious for almost a weekpublished at 10:01 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2018
Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter
A teenager has been left with head injuries described as "potentially life-changing" after being attacked in Brighton.
It happened outside the Arch nightclub on the Lower Esplanade, just after 07:00 on 14 January, and followed a closing-time altercation in another nightclub, the Hub.
Image source, Google
Image caption,
The attack happened on Brighton's Lower Esplanade
The 19-year-old victim is still unconscious in the Royal Sussex County Hospital.
A man has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Rail services hit across the South Eastpublished at 08:23 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2018
Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter
The wind is causing problems for many people trying to get to work by train this morning.
Southern says a fallen tree is blocking the line between Oxted and Uckfield, with replacement buses being used for Crowborough, Oxted and Uckfield.
Blocked lines between Horsham and Dorking and at Lingfield have now been removed and the lines reopened.
The latest updates from Southern are here, external.
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Southeastern said it has disruption to London-bound services because of a train hitting a tree at Sydenham, a train striking a fence blown on to the line at Sheerness-on-Sea and a tree on the line near Deal.
The latest details are here, external.
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Delays as QE2 Bridge closed at Dartfordpublished at 07:57 Greenwich Mean Time 18 January 2018
Hamish Mureddu-Reid
BBC News Online, South East
The A282 QE2 Bridge at the Dartford Crossing is expected to remain closed until after the morning rush hour, due to high winds, Highways England have said.
Southbound traffic is using the tunnel's east bore. Northbound traffic is restricted to the west bore, where a height restriction of 4.8m (15ft 9in) has been put in place.
Long delays are to be expected throughout the morning.
'Fraudsters ran copycat website scam'published at 20:57 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
The group allegedly tricked paying customers into thinking they were on authorised government sites.
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New mother and baby unit to openpublished at 20:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
Mother-of-two Zoe Gibson has helped design the specialist unit, which will be the first in the South East.
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PC sacked for checking abuse victim casepublished at 20:01 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
Det Con Jessica Hamer used a computer to search for the crime report for her boyfriend's friend.
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Police concerns over missing womanpublished at 19:34 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
Yasmine Djadoudi
BBC Live reporter
Police have said they are "concerned" about a woman from Henfield who has gone missing.
Katherine Haxby, 55, was last seen at home on Tuesday morning and was due to attend Brighton College.
It is believed Katherine drove into Brighton on that morning in a silver Citroen car.
Sussex Police has asked anyone with any information about Katherine's whereabouts to contact them.
Image source, Sussex Police
Barrow sign ex-Gills keeper Arnoldpublished at 18:51 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
National League side Barrow sign former Gillingham goalkeeper Steve Arnold on an 18-month contract.
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Pensioner punched in face in Hovepublished at 18:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
Yasmine Djadoudi
BBC Live reporter
A 79-year-old man needed hospital treatment after being punched in the face in Hove over the weekend.
The attack happened in George Street shortly before 12:30 GMT on Saturday.
A 33-year-old man was arrested and charged with wounding and assault by beating.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident to contact them.
Image source, Google Maps
Queen Elizabeth II bridge to close at midnightpublished at 18:11 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
Yasmine Djadoudi
BBC Live reporter
High winds will force the closure of the Queen Elizabeth II bridge from midnight.
Highways England said it will continue to monitor wind speeds closely and will reopen the bridge as soon as the wind drops to a safe level.
As a result, the east tunnel of the Dartford Crossing will close at 21:00 GMT tonight in preparation for the bridge closure.
Highways England said the crossing will remain open overnight, with the tunnel operating in both directions when the bridge is closed.
The agency expects the bridge to reopen after the morning rush hour tomorrow but added this "could change based on forecast wind speeds".
Loneliness minister targeting young and oldpublished at 18:08 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
The government creates a new ministerial role, which continues the work of the late MP Jo Cox.
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Judges rule 'mailbag thief' was framedpublished at 18:07 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
Stephen Simmons clears his name, after discovering his arresting detective was jailed for framing people.
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Teen wanted after court no-showpublished at 18:06 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
A teenager who failed to show up to court is wanted by Sussex Police.
Connor Mackay, 17, who has been charged with theft of a vehicle, failed to attend court on Wednesday 10 January.
Sussex Police believe Mackay may be in the Brighton and Hove or St Leonards area.
A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Image source, Sussex Police
Baby death mother 'not told of small risk'published at 17:31 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
Baby Puck died in a neonatal unit following an emergency caesarean section.
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Builder 'kidnapped and raped' womenpublished at 16:23 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
A builder planned for weeks to abduct two women and dump their bodies in a freezer, a court hears.
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Tribute to 'clever, interesting and kind' student struck by trainpublished at 15:48 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
Sue Nicholson
BBC News
Image source, British Transport Police
A woman who died after being struck by a train at Hildenborough railway station has been described as "clever, interesting and kind".
University student Lara Calthrop, 19, died on 29 December.
A family tribute said she was always smiling and had "left a gap" in everyone's lives.
"She had set off for university life in London to study English Literature in September 2016 full of hope for the future," they said.
"We knew she had become unhappy and disillusioned with her course but never imagined for one second that she would so drastically take away her own life, or the extent of her depression."
The family added that they hoped to raise funds for Papyrus, external - a national charity for the prevention of suicide in young people - so that "Lara’s death has not been meaningless".
Drone 'crashed into newly erected crane'published at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
It struck a crane that was not in place when the pilot carried out site safety check, a report says.
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Warning over Kemptown burglariespublished at 14:29 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter
Brighton's Kemptown area has suffered a spate of burglaries, Sussex Police has said.
Officers have increased patrols following seven break-ins in less than a month.
The streets affected are College Road, College Gardens and Great College Street, where three houses have been broken into in the last two days.
The thieves are targeting electrical items such as laptops and mobiles.
Image source, Google
Image caption,
Great College Street has been targeted three times this week
Missing Australian teen foundpublished at 14:27 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
Yasmine Djadoudi
BBC Live reporter
An Australian teenager who went missing in Sussex over the weekend has been found.
Jaya Barker, 15, came to Eastbourne to visit family.
Police said she was found safe and well in Hellingly on Tuesday evening.
Child scares away burglarpublished at 14:04 Greenwich Mean Time 17 January 2018
Bob Dale
BBC Live reporter
A burglar walked into the bedroom of a sleeping child during a break-in in Greenhithe.
The girl woke up and screamed, making the robber run out of the house in Marston Court.
The child's father found the front door open and several items missing, including house and car keys.
A 20-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident, around 06:15 GMT on 2 January.