George Carden

Alex Eades and her son Miles completed a 230-mile hike from Eastbourne to Winchester and back, raising more than £4,000 in memory of Alex’s daughter and Miles’s sister, Charlotte, who died from a brain tumour in 2016. The family has raised more than £400,000 since Charlotte’s death to support Charlotte’s Lab at King’s College Hospital, including the purchase of a high-specification computer and DNA sequencing technology that reduced diagnosis time from 21 days to two hours. They aim to raise £500,000 by Christmas next year.

Brighton & Hove City Council's planning committee approved plans for a £65m replacement King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove by eight votes to one. The new facility will include swimming pools, an eight-lane main pool, sports hall, larger gym, soft-play area and café, replacing part of the existing centre and a nearby public car park. Campaigners, who submitted objections and protested outside the town hall, argued that refurbishment would be cheaper and would better protect local facilities. The wider regeneration plans also anticipate at least 400 new homes, while supporters say the ageing centre no longer meets modern requirements and that the scheme will improve leisure provision.

A free festival celebrating 100 years of Winnie-the-Pooh will take place in Ashdown Forest, featuring Poppet, a new puppet inspired by local endangered species and operated by ten puppeteers. Creative leads Angie Bual and Laura Cubitt describe the character’s development as rooted in encouraging children to appreciate and protect the forest. Designer Jack Irving contributed to the puppet, while Queen Camilla recently praised Winnie-the-Pooh during a visit to the forest. Free tickets and park‑and‑ride options are available for attendees.

Leaseholders in Guildbourne Court in Worthing dispute more than £1m in charges for external repairs they say failed to fix long-standing water ingress and mould problems. Residents report continued leaks despite restoration works completed in 2025 and object to sudden demands to repay tens of thousands of pounds each ahead of the site’s auction. The building’s ownership structure involves multiple companies, including Netsafe Limited, which is seeking repayment. Worthing Borough Council is investigating a complaint but advises residents to seek legal advice over maintenance charges.

Fans across South East England celebrated the national team's 3-2 World Cup victory over Mexico, sharing excitement, stress, and praise for the team's heroic performance despite going down to ten men. Supporters in Dartford and Brighton described the match as dramatic and energizing, highlighting the goals, penalties, and suspense. England’s win advances them to a quarter‑final match against Norway on Saturday.

Eastbourne Borough Council’s switch from traditional Carpet Gardens to hardier, low‑maintenance planting is expected to save about £750,000 over a decade, largely by reducing water use and eliminating repeated plant imports from the Netherlands. Councillor Jim Murray acknowledged early public criticism but said rising travel costs made the previous approach financially unsustainable. Local residents now express growing support for the new design, citing its improved appearance, year‑round colour and environmental benefits as the council continues its public consultation.

A new mural depicting a police officer spray‑painting a love heart appeared near Palmeira Square in Hove, prompting speculation that it may be a Banksy. Local residents expressed mixed views on its authenticity, while Banksy expert James Peak said confirmation would require the artist to acknowledge it on official channels. The piece has drawn significant public interest, and Banksy’s PR team has been contacted for comment.

A Chilean blue eagle named Cillian was found in a field nearly two weeks after flying off from the Cowpie Country Show in Lingfield, Surrey. Staff from Huxley’s Birds of Prey Centre located him on a nearby farm, noting he had lost some weight but required no treatment. The bird, unable to survive long in the wild, was safely recovered after a transmitter failure had hindered tracking efforts.