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Thanet wins clean beach report
Beaches in Thanet in Kent have won the most blue flags in the country, meaning they are among the cleanest in the world according to tough new EU standards.
Beaches right across our region have also gained blue flag status, including Poole in Dorset and Sandown on the Isle of Wight.
Keep Britain Tidy announced the winners this morning.
Once again this year Thanet claimed the title for the most Blue Flag beaches with eight, closely followed by Poole, Torbay and Bournemouth, which have four each.
The Isle of Wight boasts the highest number of flags in total with four Blue Flags and 13 Seaside Awards.
This year, entrants had to meet stricter water quality standards to qualify for the globally recognised flags.
– Richard McIlwain, operations director Keep Britain TidyIt is fantastic news for everyone who loves visiting the seaside that 41 places in the South East will be flying a flag that guarantees the public the best facilities and the cleanest beaches this summer.
Dorset Fire: Cause of fire 'unknown'
Specialist officers will later return to a holiday camp in Weymouth, Dorset where four people where injured when a camping gas canister exploded.
Dorset Fire and Rescue service say the cause of the blaze, which caused serious facial and upper body burns to four people, is unknown at this time.
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Morning weather with Luke
VIDEO: Water supplies face 'increasing challenges'
Southern Water has unveiled plans to manage our water supplies over the next 25 years. The company says it is facing increasing challenges - including climate change and an increasing population.
Nearly £100million has been earmarked to pay for schemes which include treating and re-using waste water, and making greater use of sea water.
Earlier, Sangeeta spoke to Meyrick Gough who is Southern Water's strategy manager.
Historic street signs snapped up in Sussex auction
Some of London's most recognisable street signs, including those which have stood in Downing Street and Abbey Road, have fetched thousands of pounds at auction in West Sussex.
The distinctive enamelled Downing Street sign was bought by London-based advertising executive Trevor Beattie for £7,800, achieving far more than its estimate of up to £1,500.
And the Abbey Road sign fetched £4,350 after being bought by north London-based property investor John Antoniou as a present for his son, a musician and producer.
A collection of black aluminium finger signs which have directed tourists to world famous landmarks in the capital also went under the hammer at Summers Place Auctions in Billingshurst, and fetched £4,200.
TRAVEL - ROADS: KENT - Recovery work on M2
One lane closed and hard shoulder closed due to recovery work and earlier accident, a lorry and two cars involved on M2 coastbound between J3 A229 (Chatham / Rochester) and J4 A278 (Gillingham).
Matrix sign set to 50 mph. Lane one is also closed again for recovery. The lorry involved in the accident shed it's load of animal feed onto the carriageway.
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Four injured in camping gas explosion
Dorset Fire and Rescue Service say that four people were injured when a camping gas cylinder exploded at a holiday park in Weymouth.
– Statement from Dorset Fire and Rescue ServiceAt 1836 firefighters from Weymouth and an officer trained in hazard materials and environmental protection were mobilised to reports of a camping gas cylinder explosion on a holiday park near Chickerell.
The fire out on arrival. Four casualties treated for facial and upper body burns, gas cylinder, 250g butane cylinder and camping stove and was destroyed by fire and an awning was melted by the heat.
Vodafone sales fall for first time in seven years
Newbury-based mobile phone giant Vodafone has reported its first drop in annual revenues for seven years.
Sales of £44.4 billion for the year to March 31 were 4.2% lower than a year ago, despite the firm benefiting from stronger trading in emerging markets and increased smartphone usage.
Vodafone's service revenues in southern Europe slumped 11.6% in the year, driven by economic weakness and competition in Spain and Italy, while the figure in the UK was 4% lower.
It described trading in its home market as robust and said the decline was in part due to the impact of regulatory cuts in the charges it sets other operators for terminating calls on its network.
The company gave no update on the future of its 45% stake in US operator Verizon Wireless, amid recent speculation that the firm's majority owner Verizon is preparing a deal to buy the holding.
Vodafone's share of profits from the US business rose 30% to £6.4 billion and it is due to receive a Verizon dividend of £2.1 billion next month.
Council owed millions by ferry company
Thanet Council has revealed that it is owed £3.3million by ferry company Transeuropa after it stopped sailing out of Ramsgate. The council provided financial support to the company in 2011 when it emerged it needed help to keep it going. The company has since been declared insolvent.
REPORT: Mother wanted for Toddler death 'could have fled to Kenya'
Detectives have confirmed they are treating the death of a baby girl as murder and they have named her mother as the suspect.
But Thames Valley officers have also revealed they believe she has fled to Kenya. The body of Sarah Dahane, who was just 20 months, was discovered in a house in Bicester five days ago.
There were ongoing proceedings between her mother and father over her custody. This from Kate Bunkall who speaks to Det Ch Insp Ian Hunter
