Summary

  • An Oxford University student from Surrey accused of rape has had the charges dropped after being on bail for two years

  • Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has suggested the need for a new transport link between the UK and France, during a summit with the French president

  • Relatives of people who died in the Orchid View care scandal in West Sussex will renew calls for an inquiry in talks with MPs

  • Thanet District Councillors voted last night against the proposed local plan which included 2,500 new homes to be built on the site of Manston Airport

  • Shepway District Council has voted to change its name to Folkestone and Hythe District Council

  • Video: One hundred years after women were given the vote, work has begun in a small West Sussex village to create a statue of Emmeline Pankhurst - the leader of the suffragette movement

  • Video: Kent teenage student Keisha Strain loves being a lifeboat volunteer

  • News, sport, weather and travel updates for the South East of England

Live Reporting

  1. Council tax rise planned for East Sussex

    Ben Weisz
    Political reporter, BBC Sussex

    More savings, more tax rises - that's what's in store for East Sussex, if a draft budget published today is approved in February.

    Taxpayers face a 6% rise - nearly £80 for those in Band D.

    It comes alongside an effort to save £17 million next year - including measures to close some libraries and rubbish dumps, and reduce provision of some adult social care services.

    Cllr David Elkin addresses a meeting of East Sussex County Council.

    Cllr David Elkin said raising council tax was necessary to avoid even deeper cuts

  2. PC 'checked victim report for suspect'

    The Kent Police officer denies gross misconduct and breaching professional standards of behaviour.

    Read More

  3. Calls to postpone school expansion

    Children in a classroom (anonymous)

    Headteachers in Deal are urging Kent County Council to postpone the expansion of a primary school as fewer children will start school than planned.

    Current plans would see Deal Parochial Primary School in Gladstone Road double in size - from 210 to 420 pupils from September - but headteachers want to put this on hold until 2020.

    Roger Gough, KCC councillor for Children, Young People and Education, said: “Headteachers have come forward with their concerns as many schools are looking at their budget for the next few years and it looks like quite a difficult year.

    “School finance is comparative to the number of pupils in the school and their budgets are already under pressure.

    “It’s like Goldilocks, you don’t want to have too much or too little - but just right.”

    This push for change comes after the latest figures show that there will be less demand for school places than originally believed due to delays in housing developments.

    Fewer places for reception children are needed in the town as plans to build 235 homes in Cross Road, Walmer, were thwarted after almost 100 objections were submitted to Dover District Council.

    Councillors will vote on the postponment at the Kent County Council Children’s, Young People and Education Cabinet Committee on Thursday.

  4. UKIP leader splits with partner after texts

    Henry Bolton says his relationship is over after reported racist remarks and he will not resign.

    Read More

  5. Woman badly injured in collision

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    Two men have been arrested on suspicion of assault, affray and criminal damage after a collision between three cars at the weekend.

    A red BMW 116 hit a Subaru being towed by a black Mercedes-Benz ML270, which was stationary at the time, on the A271 Kitchenham Road in Ashburnham, near Battle.

    Ashburnham Road, BattleGoogle

    The incident happened near a junction on the A271

    A 25-year-old woman from Netherfield, who was a passenger in the Mercedes, was airlifted to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton with what are described as potentially life-changing leg injuries.

    The two men, aged 29 and 31, were arrested after a disturbance at the scene.

  6. Missing dementia sufferer found

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    Police say John Uberoi, an 83-year-old who went missing from his home in Grove Crescent, Littlehampton overnight, has been found safe.

    Mr Uberoi, who's diabetic and suffers from dementia, was found in the town centre around 09:30 GMT this morning.

  7. Council tax could go up 4.99% in Kent

    Outside of Kent County Council's headquarters

    Council taxpayers in Kent could be hit by a 4.99% increase in their bills from April, Kent County Council announced today.

    At a cabinet meeting this morning, the Conservative administration announced plans for one of its biggest tax increases to date.

    This comes after the Government said councils could increase tax by an additional 1% - raising £6 million for KCC.

    Until last month, councils only had the power to increase council tax up to 2% without penalty or need for a referendum.

    Communities Secretary Sajid Javid controversially relaxed this in December, raising the threshold to 3%, while also adding the ability to charge a 3% "precept" to fund social care.

    KCC has opted to introduce the full 3% general tax rise and 2% rise in contributions to adult social care for the next financial year.

    On average, households in band D properties paid KCC £1,178.82 in 2017-2018.

    These bills will go up by around £59 in the next financial year if the plans are approved, not including a predicted rise in payments towards district and borough councils as well as policing.

    My colleagues and I have an instinctive belief in lower, not higher, taxes but we have an equal concern and that is to protect and deliver effective and efficient public services. It is a concern that arises not just from our day-to-day roles here at County Hall but from decades of investment in schools, children’s and adults’ social care, libraries, youth services and transport."

    Cllr Paul Carter, (Con) Leader, Kent County Council

    Once again, the council tax payer is having to compensate for the Government’s disdain for local government services. Paul Carter states that he has pleaded with his Conservative colleagues in Westminster for more funding. However, it is clear that they weren’t listening or didn’t care.”

    Cllr Rob Bird, (Lib Dem) Kent County Council

  8. Wimbledon sign Maidstone striker Pigott

    AFC Wimbledon sign striker Joe Pigott from National League club Maidstone United for an undisclosed fee.

    Read More

  9. Missing: Have you seen Paul or his car?

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    A missing man from Sussex may be driving a silver Mini hatchback in Hampshire.

    Police say the last known sighting of the vehicle belonging to Paul Wilkins, from Bosham near Chichester, was on the eastbound M27 near Swanwick, just before 13:00 GMT yesterday.

    Paul, who's 51 and described as distressed and vulnerable, is 6ft 4in tall and was wearing a grey zipped top and blue jeans.

  10. Masked knifeman attacks dog walker

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    Police are hunting a masked man who stabbed a dog walker.

    The victim, who's in his 20s, was assaulted in Willow Way in Hurstpierpoint, around 07:25 GMT on 6 January.

    Willow WayGoogle

    The attack happened in this cul-de-sac in Hurstpierpoint

    He suffered injuries to his arm, after struggling with the knifeman.

    The attacker was wearing a black ski mask, black jacket and black tracksuit bottoms.

  11. Will benefit reform make things worse?

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    Is universal credit, which is meant to make life easier for people on benefits, going to push the most vulnerable into debt?

    There's more on this story on Inside Out, on BBC One at 19:30 GMT tonight, then on the iPlayer.

  12. My heart is shattered, says grandmother

    Razvan Sirbu was found beaten to death in an area of woodland in Tovil, where he had been living.

  13. Thieves make off with garden machinery

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    Police are hunting brazen thieves who towed away a wood chipper.

    The machine was seen being driven away from a property in Sandy Lane, Framfield, near Uckfield, around 15:00 GMT on 30 December.

    It was stolen by two men, driving a white van.

    They also took a leaf blower and a box of tools.

  14. Is this the UK's fittest 76-year-old?

    Ted Pollard once competed against Arnold Schwarzenegger in Mr Universe.

  15. Was grandmother a victim of flu epidemic?

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    The family of a 56-year-old woman from Hailsham believes Aussie flu was responsible for her death.

  16. Today's local newspaper headlines

    A newspaper printing pressGetty Images

    The Argus: City drug gangs target children

    Kent Online: Police investigate after man hit by car outside train station

    Surrey Mirror: Fly-tipping in Surrey: Staggering cost of clean up operation revealed after councils spend more than £618,000 clearing dumped rubbish in just one year

    Hastings Observer: One in three graduates in the South East say their degree is pointless

    Mid Sussex Times: Help hospice and take up the 15 challenge

    Worthing Herald: Flat burglars ‘destroyed lives’ of distraught couple

    Chichester Observer: Growing concern for vulnerable missing Bosham man

    Kent Live: A terrified Dartford woman called the RSPCA over a '6ft snake' but it turned out to be a caterpillar

    Brighton and Hove News: Fresh appeal for witnesses as investigation into Hangleton stabbing continues

    Eastbourne Herald: Farmers urge dog walkers to control their pets after series of sheep attacks in Jevington

    West Sussex County Times: Mouldy home is making Pulborough family ill, doctor agrees

    Brighton and Hove Independent: Oxford place for refugee who fled war-torn Syria

  17. Surrey mum's warning to parents over 'silent killer'

    Kathryn Langley
    BBC Live reporter

    A mum from Godstone is warning other parents to be aware of the signs of sepsis after her baby daughter was left fighting for her life.

    Emma Woodland took five-month-old Bonnie to the doctor with a cough, but hours later she stopped breathing and was on a life-support machine.

    Bonnie had bronchiolitis, a common respiratory infection in children under two, which then triggered sepsis.

    Sepsis is known as the 'silent killer' because it can be difficult to identify.

    Symptoms in children under five include mottled or bluish skin, lethargy, fast breathing, and a rash that does not fade when you press it.

  18. Man suffers serious head injuries in assault

    A man has been left with serious head injuries after an assault outside a Surrey pub.

    The attack happened at 23:20 GMT on Friday outside the Surrey Arms, in Camberley High Street.

    The man was taken to hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

    A man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and has been released while under investigation, Surrey Police said.

    Police are appealing for witnesses.

  19. UKIP leader splits with 'racist' girlfriend

    Henry Bolton says their relationship has ended after she reportedly made racist comments about Meghan Markle.

    Read More

  20. Boys arrested after stabbing

    Hamish Mureddu-Reid
    BBC News Online, South East

    Six boys, three aged 15, and three aged 16 were arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm after two men in their 20s were attacked in Queen's Parade, Hangleton.

    One man had serious stab wounds and was treated in hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening.

    The attack happened at about 22:00 GMT on Friday, Sussex Police said.

    A 16-year-old boy has been released without charge, and the remaining five boys were released under investigation, police said.

    Queen's Parade, HangletonEddie Mitchell