Hsin-Yi Lo

Karen Hauer, a former long-serving Strictly Come Dancing professional, is appearing as dance teacher Mavis in Eastbourne Devonshire Park Theatre’s production of Richard Harris’s comedy Stepping Out. Hauer said the role came at an important time after her departure from Strictly in 2025 and that she felt connected to its themes of friendship, confidence and community. She also described enjoying her time in Eastbourne, despite the heat during rehearsals and performances.

Jon Cook, a 46-year-old man from near Canterbury with permanent nerve damage after surgery for spinal-cord tumours, completed the 290-mile Para Arch to Arc Challenge from London to Paris. The journey involved handcycling from London to Dover, rowing across the Channel and cycling from Calais to Paris. Extreme heat and ferry delays forced changes to the schedule, but Cook and his team completed the challenge, believed to be the first of its kind by someone with a spinal cord injury. He has raised more than £7,100 for charities that supported his recovery.

A faded seafront mural at The Leas in Minster, Kent, has been replaced with a nautical-themed artwork by mother-and-daughter artists Julie Bradshaw and Anna Piles. The new mural includes mermaids, marine life, an RNLI lifeboat, the masts of the SS Richard Montgomery, Sheppey wildlife and the legend of Sir Robert de Shurland. Residents have welcomed the transformation, while the parish council said it aimed to celebrate both the island’s heritage and its continuing identity as a seaside destination.

The railway between Lewes and Haywards Heath will remain closed for at least 10 more days after three carriages of a Southern passenger train derailed near Lewes, injuring two people seriously and sending 18 others to hospital. Network Rail and Southern Railway are preparing two 125-tonne rail-mounted cranes to lift the carriages from an embankment, but difficult access, unstable ground, a nearby river and a protected scientific site are complicating the operation. Once the train is removed, engineers will assess the track damage and determine the repairs needed before services can safely resume. Replacement transport and additional station staff will be provided while disruption continues.

Train services between Oxted and Uckfield are suspended because of a track defect, with Southern Rail engineers investigating and repairs expected to continue until 08:00 BST on Tuesday. Replacement buses and alternative routes via Tunbridge Wells and Edenbridge are available, although journeys may take at least an hour longer. The disruption follows a derailment near Lewes and a recent landslip affecting other services in the region.

Brighton's R-Bar and Charles Street Tap, two longstanding LGBTQ+ venues, have announced permanent closures, though dates have not yet been set. R-Bar director Steve Jones attributed the decision to rising wages, business rates, rent and reduced customer spending, while warning that the wider nightlife industry remains under severe pressure. Charles Street Tap general manager Chris Marshall expressed personal sadness and said the venue had played an important role in Brighton's LGBTQ+ community.

A goose disrupted a football match between Burgess Hill Town and Whyteleafe in West Sussex after crash-landing on the pitch 37 minutes into the game. It took several minutes to capture the bird, which was safely returned to the surrounding nature. More than 700 fans and the players reportedly found the incident amusing, and Burgess Hill Town went on to win 3-0.

Bluebell Railway has suspended steam train services between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead because prolonged dry weather and high temperatures have increased the risk of lineside wildfires. The decision followed advice from the fire service, while heritage diesel locomotives continue to operate dining and supper trains. The railway is monitoring weather and ground conditions and working with relevant authorities before deciding when steam services can safely resume.

Firefighters are holding a rally outside Maidstone County Hall to oppose Kent Fire & Rescue Service proposals that could put 63 jobs at risk. The plans include closing four on-call stations, removing on-call engines from four other stations, and reallocating engines to provide more daytime coverage. Chief executive Ann Millington says the changes are intended to manage financial pressures while maintaining public and firefighter safety, but the Fire Brigades Union argues they would critically undermine emergency response and has not ruled out industrial action. The Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Authority is due to vote on whether to launch an eight-week public consultation.

Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat is urgently raising £30,000 for a replacement tractor after severe mechanical failures made its current launch vehicle unreliable and difficult to repair. The East Sussex charity says it cannot operate its lifeboat service safely without the vehicle, particularly during the busy summer season, and covers the coastline between Hastings and Camber. With 30 volunteers and 30 to 60 rescues annually, the charity says grants would take too long and its protected lifeboat fund cannot be used for the purchase.

Karen Jenkins is preparing to retire after nearly 50 years in nursing, including more than four decades with East Kent Hospitals' renal team. Canterbury's first renal research nurse and a former consultant nurse, she helped expand services from supporting fewer than 70 dialysis patients to more than 600, while developing care for patients before dialysis and those who choose not to undergo it. Jenkins, who received the British Renal Society's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019, plans to spend retirement with her family, travel and sail.

A wildfire in Abbot's Wood near Polegate has burned a large area of gorse and trees, prompting East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to deploy eight fire crews from multiple towns. Residents are being urged to avoid the area, including Robin Post Lane, as firefighters work to contain the blaze.

Parents whose daughter died from meningitis B are urging young people in England to take up newly available free MenB vaccinations following a major outbreak in Kent. Pharmacies have begun offering appointments, with health professionals recommending timely booking and completion of both doses. Meningitis Now continues to support affected families and raise awareness of the importance of vaccination as students prepare for the new academic year.

Students in Kent completed the first year of a new body art degree offered by the University for the Creative Arts in Canterbury, described as the first of its kind in the UK. The programme aims to elevate tattooing within academia, challenge stigma and address gender disparities in the profession. University staff highlight parallels with once-novel fields like games programming and note that most first-year students identify as female or non-binary, reflecting efforts to create more inclusive spaces in a male‑dominated industry.

A Kent dance studio run by the Jasmin Vardimon Dance Company is credited with opening training opportunities for local young people, subsidising students and offering community programs. Testimonials from dancers and teachers describe the studio as transformative, providing access to advanced dance education and fostering a diverse artistic community.

A female Nubian giraffe calf named after England footballer Jude Bellingham has been born at Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve in Hythe, the site’s first giraffe birth since 2018. Staff say the calf and her mother, Leana, are healthy and gradually being introduced to the rest of the herd, which now numbers eight. The park hopes the newborn will soon be visible to visitors. With fewer than 4,000 individuals remaining, the critically endangered Nubian giraffe’s native range includes parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Uganda.

South East Water is required to fund £30.5m in improvements after Ofwat concluded investigations into repeated supply failures affecting thousands of customers in Kent and Sussex. Shareholders will cover costs, which include free water butts, expanded smart metering and increased on‑site storage. Ofwat cited inadequate communication and insufficient bottled water provision during major outages that left tens of thousands without water and forced school closures. The regulator will appoint an independent monitor to oversee improvements, emphasising accountability after years of disruption.

A Kent father plans to climb Scafell Pike dressed as Spiderman to honour his premature son Eddie, who died shortly after birth. Dan and Amy Pearce aim to raise at least £3,000 for East Kent Hospitals Charity, which supports the bereavement suite that allowed them extra time with their child. Dan will climb with his brother and friend, each dressed as a different Avenger, during the first week of September, when Eddie was due. The couple express gratitude for the support they received and hope the fundraising will help other bereaved parents.

Fans of the BBC comedy Ghosts can attend themed sleepover events at West Horsley Place, the estate where the series is set, to mark the release of the upcoming film Ghosts: The Possession of Button House. Activities include film tours, themed cocktails, a silent disco and overnight stays in the historic Stone Hall. The events aim to celebrate the film while supporting the preservation of the estate, which was inherited by Bamber Gascoigne and later opened to the public through the West Horsley Place Trust.

A coordinated operation involving Gatwick Airport staff, Trading Standards and police uncovered about 150 vehicles stored in poor conditions by rogue parking operators who had advertised premium parking. Holidaymakers reported difficulties locating their cars and receiving fines after operators abandoned vehicles in short‑stay areas, fields or on local roads. Gatwick officials urged travellers to verify parking services by checking for ParkMark accreditation, Trading Standards information and reliable independent reviews, warning that unusually low prices can signal illegitimate operators.

A five-year-old girl from Snodland is undertaking a 6.8km scooter challenge to raise funds to help her friend Sid, who lives with spinal muscular atrophy type 1. Inspired by learning about his mobility challenges and the need for costly home adaptations, she has already raised more than £3,400. Sid previously received the gene therapy Zolgensma, and his family continues fundraising for essential modifications, supported by the charity Tree of Hope.

A reconstructed 16th‑century prayer book reveals how monks at Battle Abbey preserved the memory of the Battle of Hastings through rituals, prayers for the dead, and observance of feast days for lesser-known saints. Dr Mark Carter’s research highlights Norman-French influence at the abbey and indicates that traditions linked to the 1066 conflict persisted long after continental reforms ended. The manuscript, offering rare insights into early post-Conquest religious life, is now held at Trinity College’s Wren Library in Cambridge.

Police in Surrey released CCTV images of two women who may have witnessed a rape reported in Haslemere between the evening of 23 June and early 24 June. A man in his 30s was arrested and released on conditional bail. Investigators believe the two women travelled on a Portsmouth Direct line train and got off at Liss in Hampshire, and stress they are not suspects. Police are appealing for anyone in the area of Weydown Road and Wey Hill at the time to come forward.

A man has been charged with the murders of Adrian Horton and Uschi Schild, who were found dead in a property in St Leonards. Sussex Police arrested 58-year-old Sean Gray, who is set to appear before Brighton Magistrates' Court. Police say the victims and the suspect were known to each other and are not seeking other individuals. Enquiries continue with an increased police presence in the area.

Kent residents express reluctance to report neighbours who breach an upcoming South East Water hosepipe ban introduced in response to high temperatures and record demand. Many cite dissatisfaction with the company’s leak management or note exemptions such as those for disabled badge holders. The ban will affect several Kent areas and restricts activities like watering gardens and filling pools, though some customers qualify for exemptions.

Two former RAF engineers, Richard Rawnsley and James Butterworth, reunited after 23 years when they both joined a charity bike ride from Aylesford to Ypres to raise funds for veterans. Their friendship, formed during service in the 1990s, resumed after reconnecting through the event’s messaging group. Rawnsley, who has faced depression and health issues since leaving the military, credited personal support networks and the Royal British Veterans Enterprise for aiding his recovery. Alongside more than 30 participants, the pair completed the Tommy Ride, with the route through Tyne Cot Cemetery and to the Menin Gate described as deeply emotional.

A Kent search and rescue dog named Millie began her first international mission in Venezuela after two major earthquakes killed more than 1,700 people. Millie and her handler joined Kent Fire and Rescue Service members deployed with UK International Search and Rescue to find survivors using dogs, drones and ground searches. Local authorities have welcomed the assistance as teams continue efforts to locate people trapped under rubble.

Residents in Thanet report confusion and disrupted waste collections following recent changes to the district’s recycling system, introduced to meet national rules requiring food waste collection. Complaints include missed pickups and inconsistent communication, while some councillors label the new service inferior to the previous one. The council acknowledges issues linked to service changes and recent heat, says recycling volumes have increased, and is adding resources as it works to restore reliability. A detailed report on the problems is scheduled for review in mid‑July.