More litter being found on our beaches
Increasing amounts of litter from sweet wrappers to cigarette butts are being found on UK beaches according to a new survey.
Compensation claims for Dreamliners
Boeing, the company behind the grounded fleet of 787 Dreamliner planes, is facing millions of pounds of compensation claims.
The south on flood alert
Three Flood Warnings and more than 30 Flood Alerts are in place across the Meridian region as more heavy rain falls in the south.
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Smartphones to fight shopping centre crime
A new scheme allowing people to help solve crime using their smartphones has been launched in Basingstoke.
'Facewatch' is a reporting system that will be used to identify suspects in the Festival Place shopping centre.
People can view images on their smartphone or a computer and nominate names of people they recognise at the click of a button.
Information can be submitted through Facewatch or anonymously via Crimestoppers. Police officers and staff are also able to view the images on their Blackberry phones.
Insp Marcus Cator said: “This app allows people to view images when and where they like, and if they recognise someone they can send a response immediately."
The Facewatch app works on all smart phones and is free to download from the Apple App Store, Android Google Play and BlackBerry App World. It is also available through the Facewatch website here.
Man 'lucky to be alive' after apartment fall
A man from Burgess Hill, who fell from the 15th floor of a building in New Zealand, is being described as lucky to be alive.
Tom Stilwell was trying to lower himself from a neighbour's balcony when he found himself locked out of his apartment. The 20 year old slipped and fell, landing on a roof below. He suffered broken bones.
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Family support worker to receive MBE
An adoption worker from Sussex is to receive an MBE for services to charity Family Support Work (FSW).
Ann Ward, who lives in Burgess Hill, has worked with the charity for 30 years helping hundreds of families and thousands of children.
Maggie Simons, director of FSW, said: ‘’Ann puts energy into everything she does. She takes ‘a bit of sparkle’ into families lives when they are having a dark day, for many she has truly been the light at the end of the tunnel.
"This award could not be better deserved. We are very proud of her."
Ann will collect her honour from the Queen later in the year.
Police appeal after Tesco van collision
Police are appealing for witnesses after a collision between a Tesco delivery van and pedestrian.
The van was travelling north on Pagham Road in Bognor when the crash occurred on Friday afternoon at 5.45pm.
A 60-year-old man from Bognor Regis was taken to Southampton Hospital with a serious head injury where he remains in a critical condition.
Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident to contact police on 101 quoting Operation Malvern.
Worst mortality rates in the South
The peer ranking shows that Rotherham and Redcar and Cleveland are doing well among the most deprived areas, while Bracknell and Central Bedfordshire have some of the highest rates of early death in the least deprived areas.
Worst premature mortality rates in the South:
- Medway
- Brighton & Hove
- Portsmouth
- Southampton
Worse than average mortality rates in the South:
- Reading
- Bournemouth
Death rates where you live
People living in the north of England have a greater risk of dying early than those in the south, according to a national league table of premature death rates published today.
Wokingham has the lowest overall premature mortality rate with 200 such deaths from 2009 to 2011, making it the best in the list of 150 local authorities. As you can see on the map above, most areas in the South are among the 'best' in the country for premature mortality rates.
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North/South death rates divide
People living in the north of England have a greater risk of dying early than those in the south, according to a national league table of premature death rates published today.
The Longer Lives website from Public Health England ranks local authorities using a traffic light system, ranging from red for the worst areas to green for the best. Click here to see a map showing how where you live compares to elsewhere in the country.
There is a clear north/south divide in the statistics, which show the number of people under the age of 75 who died over a two-year period, with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt describing it as a "shocking variation".
Police appeal for wanted man
Craig Aldis, 29, is wanted by police after he was recalled to prison in April.
He is described as white, of stocky/muscular build, about 5' 10" tall, with short brown hair. He is believed to be a body builder and has a tattoo of a smoking skull on his left arm.
Detective Sergeant Dave Osland said: "Aldis has links to the Brighton and Lewes areas and was last known to work in the Hassocks and Bolney areas where he was employed as a roofer.
"Anyone who sees him or knows of his whereabouts is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101, quoting serial 0569 of 10 April. Alternatively call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."
Barnes: Police cuts threaten safety
More cuts to the police budget will threaten the safety of people in Kent, according to the Police and Crime Commissioner Ann Barnes.
She's begun a petition calling for any planned cuts to be abandoned. The Government's expected to make an announcement in June about future budgets.
Meanwhile, more than 600 people have applied for just 30 jobs as Police Community Support Officers with Sussex Police.
The force is also recruiting for 80 new constables in the first time the roles have been offered for four years.
Scuba instructor jailed over sex offences
A scuba-diving instructor has been sentenced to life imprisonment for a series of indecent assaults on children and young people that he taught during a 11-year period, police said.
Philip James Gaisford, 64, an educational instructor, of Old Lane, St Johns, Crowborough, East Sussex, was convicted at Lewes Crown Court of 27 sexual offences, involving nine victims comprising of boys and girls aged between 13 and 18 between 1997 and 2008.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment and has been ordered to serve 12 years minimum before being eligible to apply for parole.
Det Insp Rob Morland said: "Gaisford systematically and cynically abused trusting young people who had become involved with him in his capacity as a scuba diving instructor and the court clearly found his conduct to be a gross breach of trust.
"The investigation of this case was complex and I thank the witnesses for their courage in giving evidence.
"The verdict shows that if victims are willing to come forward, they will be supported to be able to give their evidence and justice can be achieved."
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