Summary

  • Armed police cordon off roads in St Leonards after reports of a shooting

  • Building badly damaged in Portslade fire to be dismantled

  • The leader of far-right group Britain First has been attacked in jail in Kent

  • Surrey County Council leader sees off leadership challenge

  • 'Mini Beast from the East' brings fresh snow warnings

  • Boy, 12, seriously hurt in hit-and-run

  • Medway Council trying to track down driver who racked up £20k of unpaid parking tickets

  • Video: Transport Secretary Chris Grayling: No post-Brexit lorry checks at Dover

  • Number of secondary schools in deficit has 'trebled'

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

  1. Woking 2-2 Wrexhampublished at 16:56 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March 2018

    Woking's Joey Jones' late equaliser sends Wrexham down a place to fifth in the National League.

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  2. BREAKING: 'Reports of shooting'published at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Here's the latest from police on the ongoing incident in St Leonards.

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  3. BREAKING: Armed police cordon off roadspublished at 20:46 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Armed police have cordoned off roads in St Leonards, with reports of a helicopter flying overhead.

  4. How the Victorians censored the Bayeux Tapestrypublished at 20:23 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    There's a copy of the Bayeux Tapestry in England. But a few changes were made.

  5. Jools Holland in wedding venue noise rowpublished at 19:58 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    The renowned pianist kept a diary chronicling the "noisy hubbub" outside his Kent country manor.

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  6. Burned-out building demolishedpublished at 19:49 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    A warehouse in Portslade is still burning 24 hours after catching fire, as demolition work begins.

  7. Priceless stolen artefacts recoveredpublished at 19:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Thousands of ancient objects "of immense value to the nation" were stolen in a raid in January.

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  8. Council 'hypocritical' for investing in tobacco companiespublished at 18:53 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    A woman smoking (anonymous)

    A councillor has called Kent County Council (KCC) "hypocritical" for investing in tobacco companies while promoting quitting smoking.

    Green Party councillor, Martin Whybrow, condemned proposals for KCC to bankroll companies, such as British American Tobacco, Philip Morris and Imperial, the day after the boss of public health spoke out against smoking.

    Conservative councillor Seán Holden as well as Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors supported Mr Whybrow's comments at the full council meeting yesterday.

    KCC has invested in four equity funding schemes, which in turn have invested in tobacco companies.

    This includes a £35,000 investment in British American Tobacco.

    Kent County Council headquarters

    However those in charge of the council's finances, councillor John Simmonds and councillor Margaret Crabtree said these investments are "essential" to keep council tax prices down and protect front-line services.

    Quote Message

    Smoking remains one of the major causes of preventable death so quitting really is the best thing a smoker can do. We are committed to supporting Kent smokers who want to quit."

    Andrew Scott-Clark, Kent County Council

    Deputy finance cabinet member Ms Crabtree said the £35,000 investment in British American Tobacco is a "tiny proportion" of the total £275m.

    She added: "We need the returns from equity funds to achieve higher investment returns to reduce savings in front line services."

  9. Shoreham crash families 'meet prosecutors'published at 18:29 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Relatives of 11 men killed in the air show disaster are expecting updates on possible criminal charges.

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  10. Terminally ill man marries financeepublished at 18:17 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    John Young
    Reporter, BBC South East Today

    When he was told his cancer was terminal, this Burgess Hill man re-organised his wedding in just 10 days.

  11. Twickenham murder: Woman stabbed 'multiple times'published at 17:43 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Forensic officers outside South Road, TwickenhamImage source, PA

    Detectives investigating the murder of a 47-year-old woman from Twickenham say she was stabbed "multiple times".

    The victim, who has not yet been named, was found dead at her home on South Road, on 5 March.

    The bodies of her 57-year-old husband and two young boys, aged seven and 10, were found at Birling Gap seafront later that day.

    Post-mortems on the bodies of the husband and wife were carried out at Kingston mortuary on 12 March and 12 March.

    The woman's cause of death was given as "multiple stab wounds" - while the man is said to have died from "multiple injuries consistent with falling from height."

    The same cause of death was given for the two children.

    The Met Police say at this stage, detectives aren't looking for anyone else.

  12. Man kicks seagull to deathpublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Man kicking seagullImage source, RSPCA

    A man who was pictured killing a seagull after it tried to grab his food is being sought by the RSPCA.

    The attack happened in Terminus Road, Eastbourne, on 2 March at 12:45 GMT.

    Witnesses said the man was walking down the street when the gull swooped. He is then said to have kicked the bird twice.

    The injured gull died shortly after.

    RSPCA Inspector Alison Edwards said: “This is an unacceptable way to treat a wild animal. We’d like to speak to anyone who recognises this man or who saw what happened to the gull."

    Man approaching gullImage source, RSPCA
  13. Ehmer signs new Gillingham contractpublished at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Defender Max Ehmer signs a new two-year contract with League One side Gillingham until the end of the 2019-20 season.

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  14. Patrol cars rammed as pursuit ends on karting circuitpublished at 14:39 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    Four police vehicles were damaged by a car which was deliberately driven at them, after officers tried to stop it.

    The Renault Megane was pursued from Horton Kirby to Blue Bell Hill at about 01:50 GMT earlier, where it smashed through the gates of the Buckmore Park Kart Circuit.

    It's then said to have been deliberately driven at the patrol cars before it was stopped.

    Buckmore Park Kart CircuitImage source, Google
    Image caption,

    The pursuit ended with four patrol cars being rammed at this karting circuit

    Three people, two men aged 19 and 20, and a 19-year-old woman, have been arrested on suspicion of driving offences, intent to cause grievous bodily harm and criminal damage.

    Cannabis and a quantity of cash were found in the vehicle.

  15. Police renew appeal for missing teenage boypublished at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Police have renewed their appeal for a missing teenager from Carlisle who hasn't been seen for over three weeks.

    Joseph Charlott, 16, was last seen on 21 February in the Raffles area of Carlisle but has links to Hastings, Peterborough and the Clyde area of Scotland.

    Joseph CharlottImage source, Cumbria Police
  16. Roller hockey goalie uses senses 'other than sight'published at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Chrissie Reidy
    Reporter, BBC South East Today

    Tilly King, 18, represents the England ladies roller hockey team and has severe eyesight problems.

  17. Missing Kent teen could be in Southamptonpublished at 12:37 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    There's growing concern for a teenager who hasn't been seen for nearly a month.

    Brandon Chalcroft from Ashford was last seen on 21 February.

    It's thought he may be in the Southampton area.

    Brandon ChalcroftImage source, Kent Police
  18. Stadium misses opening amid contractor delayspublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    An £8m sports stadium for Dorking has had its opening date put back after building work took longer than planned, Mole Valley council has said.

    The Meadowbank stadium was planned to open on Monday, with the first match for Dorking Wanderers football club set for 27 March.

    Building work on stadium
    Image caption,

    It is hoped the stadium will open in the summer

    The council said it was in talks with contractors and would release an opening date when it was confident it would be delivered.

    Dorking Wanderers said the opening had already been delayed in February but "quite simply, the stadium isn't finished, so it can't open". The club said it was still planning a "grand opening".

  19. No change at the top in Surreypublished at 12:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Jack Fiehn
    Political reporter

    David Hodge remains leader of Surrey County Council, after seeing off a challenge from within his own party.

    At a meeting this morning he faced his predecessor Dr Andrew Povey, who was leader up until October 2011.

    Cllr David Hodge
    Image caption,

    David Hodge has been leader of Surrey County Council for nearly seven years

    Dr Povey said there was a need for fresh thinking to deal with the authority's funding problems which will see it having to increase council tax, dig into its reserves and make £66m in savings.

    But at a meeting at County Hall this morning, Cllr Hodge received the backing of 90% of his party.

  20. Portslade fire building to be dismantledpublished at 11:41 Greenwich Mean Time 16 March 2018

    Portslade fire sceneImage source, Eddie Mitchell

    A builders merchants in Portslade which was badly destroyed by fire is going to be dismantled, say East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

    Firefighters have been back at the scene today after the blaze at Chandler Building Supplies in Basin Road yesterday.

    Residents are being urged to keep doors and windows closed and the fire service also says there may be more smoke.

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