Durham win a fifth T20 Blast match in a row and go top of the North Group as Kent, Notts, Sussex and Birmingham also win.

The controversial Kent property tycoon Fergus Wilson has responded to today's 0.25% interest rate rise by putting up rental prices for new tenancies.

Mr Wilson made the announcement within an hour of the Bank of England's decision to increase rates to 0.75%.

Mr Wilson said he was simply passing on his increased mortgage costs to new tenants.

Last month it emerged he was being investigated for discrimination after evicting women with newborn babies.

Loughborough Lightning comfortably beat Surrey Stars to go top of the Kia Super League while Southern Vipers lose again.

Sarah Booker-Lewis
Local Democracy Reporter

Brighton hospital officials gave an upbeat assessment as they flagged up an impending official inspection.

Marianne Griffiths, who runs the Royal Sussex County Hospital, said she believed inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) would see a "huge improvement".

She also hoped that the NHS trust - Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals (BSUH) - would come out of "special measures", having previously being given a CQC rating of "inadequate".

Mrs Griffiths said the trust had come out of financial special measures three weeks earlier as it wrestled with a deficit still in excess of £50 million.

The trust's changing status reflected a raft of improvements, she said, with the groundwork laid for more.

Morale was up, the benefits of huge investment in buildings was already being felt - and work on a new helipad was almost complete, she went on.

Three people have been arrested and a large quantity of Class A drugs have been seized by police ahead of this weekend’s Brighton Pride.

Officers carried out drug warrants at properties in Stone Street and Hanover Terrace on Wednesday morning.

Suspected crystal meth, drugs paraphernalia and thousands of pounds in cash were seized, Sussex Police said.

Three men, aged 42, 52 and 48, all from Brighton, were arrested for offences including possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.

Sarah Booker-Lewis
Local Democracy Reporter

Businesses hoping to celebrate Brighton Pride this weekend by laying on a party have been rebuffed by council licensing chiefs.

Twenty-two firms from bars to coffee sellers to car hire companies applied for permission to sell alcoholic drinks as huge crowds are expected in town.

But objections from Sussex Police persuaded most applicants to drop their plans. Some applications - to extend existing licences temporarily or to grant a one-off licence - were heard by a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel.

The most recent panel hearings dealt with requests from the Dialling In coffee kiosk, in New Road, and Chapter XIII tattoo parlour and café, in Pool Valley.

Chapter XIII owner Jessica Stocker told a licensing panel yesterday that she just wanted to sell alcohol during her normal trading hours and had no plans for a party.

But the panel was told that for the past two years Pride parties at the venue had got out of control.

Sussex Police licensing officer Mark Thoroughgood said: "Over the last two years this venue has seen the single biggest use of police resources in the city during Pride weekend."

Miss Stocker told the panel that in the past three years she had held 30 events without any problems.

Referring to her plans for Pride, she said: "I'm not holding an event. There's no DJ. I'm just doing my normal trading hours as for the last two years it has not gone right.

"I have taken on board all the points made over the last three years." She added: "I enjoy Pride and I want to be open."

A British Airways Airbus A320 sparked alerts at Gatwick twice in 10 days because of technical issues.

Stuart Maisner
BBC Live reporter

Kent Fire and Rescue Service has been responding to a large field fire in Hartley Bottom Road in Longfield.

Two hectares of grass and undergrowth are alight.

Four fire engines and an all terrain vehicle were sent to the scene along with approximately 20 firefighters.

Dean Kilpatrick
Local Democracy Reporter

A decision on whether to allow two new apartment blocks to be built in Gillingham has been delayed.

Members of Medway Council's planning committee shared their concerns about plans to create 22 flats in Ingram Road, but decided to defer in order to get enough evidence to protect the authority from a possible appeal.

Bencewell Properties' application includes a four-storey and three-storey block, which locals claim is "too dominant" for the area.

A number of residents attended the meeting last night to show their strength of feeling about the proposal, which would impact Gillingham Green and other neighbouring roads.

Image source, Getty Images

Staff at one of the South East's largest hospitals have warned its accident and emergency services are under pressure as they prepare for an influx of tens of thousands visitors for the annual Brighton Pride Festival.

Managers at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in the city say they are already struggling to cope with unprecedented demand.

And with the South East braced for another spell of hot weather, NHS workers and the police are urging people to "party responsibly".

Chief Superintendent Neil Honnor said: “As always, we ask that the public demonstrates a certain level of personal responsibility including things like taking care of belongings, following personal safety advice and flagging any issues or suspicious behaviour to event staff or police."

It's hats off to the racegoers as magnificent millinery takes over Glorious Goodwood.

Dean Kilpatrick
Local Democracy Reporter

A plan to convert a builder's yard into a residential space has been rejected for a second time in the space of four months.

Medway Council's planning committee voted against Napbarn Property Company Limited's vision to build a three-storey block containing six one-bedroom flats on the site in Napier Road, Gillingham.

Existing buildings would have been demolished, and three parking spaces provided.

It was previously turned down in April 2018 as it was felt the development would not "provide satisfactory living conditions for future occupiers".

But despite the applicant's willingness to scale down the project by removing a second building from the plan, councillors still felt unable to support it.

Dean Kilpatrick
Local Democracy Reporter

A plan to convert and extend a Chatham shop into 32 flats has been granted planning permission.

The application to redevelop the bed showroom on New Road faced objections, but approved by Medway Council's planning committee last night by 10 votes to five.

The existing rear flat roof will be raised to provide an enlarged first and second floors, as well as providing a new third one.

Meanwhile, excavation work will convert the lower ground floor into residential use. Just under 20 on-site parking spaces will be provided in the basement and lower basement.

Rebecca Curley
Local Democracy Reporter

Objections over controversial plans to build a leisure centre at Staines Park have forced a council to go back and look for alternative sites.

Opposition grew around Spelthorne Borough Council's proposals for the development on the Commercial Road land, with more than 4,000 people signing a petition to save the park.

The borough carried out a consultation over their plans which ended on 23 July.

Residents argued they would be losing green space and other leisure facilities already at the site if the park was used and questioned why the current leisure centre in Knowle Green could not be renovated or why the consultation did not mention other sites.

On 2 August the council appeared to do a U-turn as it announced it was going back to the drawing board to "explore alternative sites for its proposed new leisure centre in light of public opposition to the location on Staines Park".

Cath Moore, spokesman for Save Staines Park Committee, which has more than 3,500 supporters on its Facebook group, said: "We are relieved Spelthorne Borough Council has listened to the views of thousands of residents to look at alternative sites as we absolutely support a new leisure centre but not in these facilities."

Championship side Millwall sign Czech Republic international Jiri Skalak from Brighton & Hove Albion for an undisclosed fee.

Hundreds of people are expected to be refused entry to Brighton Pride, after buying from secondary tickets sites.

Image source, Getty Images

It's Europe's busiest airport, and as well as attracting millions of passengers could Heathrow also be a magnet for the sizzling heat?

Heathrow holds the UK record for July's hottest day ever. Three years ago it reached a sweltering 36.7C.

It also briefly recorded 2018's highest temperature of 35C, before being pipped by Faversham (35.3C) in Kent last Thursday.

So what's causing Heathrow to rise to the top of the temperature charts?

South Western Railway and the RMT union have been in dispute over guard roles.

Image source, Getty Images

The Argus, external: This is when the new Brighton ALDI store will open

Kent Online, external: Gravesham council leader David Turner and several allies step down to form new party after green belt row

Get Surrey, external: Concern that 'someone will get seriously hurt or killed' at West Byfleet temporary traffic lights

Chichester Observer, external: Elderly man found dead in Bognor park

Kent Live, external: Businesses near Margate Harbour Arm have called for action over its 'disgraceful' toilets

Brighton and Hove Independent, external: Two railway stations to close during Brighton Pride

Eastbourne Herald:, external Head shave to fundraise for poorly toddler

Crawley and Horley Observer, external: ‘Drought’ forces Horsham pond dipping event to be called off

West Sussex County Times, external: Work set to start on new multi-million pound Storrington surgery

Sussex Express, external: Roadworks loom for busy Polegate road

Worthing Herald, external: Community comes to rescue for family in need

Brighton and Hove News, external: Brighton nurse's lifesaving blankets up for award

Hastings Observer, external: St Leonards boy pirouetting his way to glory

Mid Sussex Times, external: Rare tree at Borde Hill Garden to bloom for 4th time in 90 years

Rajdeep Sandhu
Political Reporter, BBC Radio Kent

Ten Conservative councillors in Gravesend are quitting the party to form their own group.

The new Gravesham Independent Conservatives group includes the leader David Turner and deputy John Knight.

Before the split, the Conservatives held power on Gravesham Borough Council, with 24 councillors over Labour's 20.

The other defecting councillors are Lesley Boycott, Julia Burgoyne, Harold Craske, Sandra Garside, Greta Goatley, Bill Lambert, Sara Langsdale and Derek Shelbrooke.

Image source, Google