Local News

V2 Radio is monitoring the latest fire-service incidents and rail disruption across West Sussex, East Sussex and Hampshire to help keep you safe.

Airbourne reaches its fourth and final day in Eastbourne today, with fast jets, historic aircraft, and parachutists.

Mobile phones across southern England have sounded after the Government issued an emergency warning about the very high risk of wildfires.

A man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape of a girl under the age of 13 in West Sussex.

Rail investigators are examining two passenger train derailments within the space of 24 hours following incidents near Lewes and Wickford.

Police are appealing for witnesses and dash cam footage following a fatal collision in Hook.

Passengers travelling between Littlehampton and Chichester are benefiting from more than £166,000 of investment in new bus shelters.

East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service is urging people not to ignore wildfire prevention advice as crews continue to respond to a high number of outdoor fires.

The family of a motorcyclist who died following a collision near Petworth has paid tribute to an “amazing dad” whose personality “filled a room”.

Sussex Police has been ranked as the top performing force for answering 999 calls for 12 consecutive months.

Eight fire engines are tackling a fire at a waste transfer site in Ford Road, Ford.

British Transport Police has praised Lewes residents for supporting passengers and emergency crews following yesterday’s train derailment.

A Crowborough man who advertised himself on a childcare website and sexually abused a young girl has been sentenced to five years in prison.

Arun District Council is currently housing 252 households in temporary accommodation and has spent more than £3.5m on emergency and temporary housing in 2025/26.

Firefighters tackled a blaze which spread across two fields and a hedge near Ringmer.

Firefighters have been tackling a large woodland fire at Hawley Lakes in Blackwater.

Residents and community organisations have celebrated the success of Shoreham’s Community Food Hub following its move to the town’s fire station.

Crawley councillors have welcomed the news that local authorities could be given more powers to stop vape and betting shops from opening in town centres.

Two Sussex services have been shortlisted for national awards recognising their work to improve care for adults with ADHD and young people with complex mental health needs.

A man has been jailed for four years and three months for his involvement in a series of burglaries targeting businesses in Hastings.

Students across the South East have achieved some of the strongest A-level results in England, with almost a third of entries receiving the top grades.

A house in Saltdean has been badly damaged after a fire broke out in its roof.

Students across the South will receive their A-level, T Level and vocational qualification results today (Thursday, 13 August.)

A councillor has asked what action Brighton and Hove City Council is taking to prevent potential flooding once the current drought is over.

Residents have just days left to apply for a role helping decide how much councillors in Worthing and Adur receive in allowances.

Victoria Park will be transformed into a world of light, colour and architecture when Luminarium makes its Portsmouth debut this September.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors are expected to descend on Eastbourne when Airbourne returns to the town’s seafront today (Thursday, 13 August.)

Hovertravel added 156 extra flights to its timetable during July after recording an increase in demand from passengers travelling between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

Sussex Police Chief Constable Jo Shiner KPM has joined senior policing figures from across the UK in calling on the Prime Minister to prevent the early release of those responsible for the death of PC Andrew Harper.

A family track day featuring an impressive collection of supercars raised £15,000 to provide beds for children in need in Sussex.

An unidentified disc-shaped object passed within a few hundred feet of a commercial passenger aircraft as it approached Gatwick Airport, an official safety report has revealed.

A family-run Chichester restaurant has been recognised as one of the leading curry restaurants in the South East.

A red wildfire-risk warning has been issued across the Arun district as continuing dry conditions leave beaches and green spaces vulnerable to rapidly spreading fires.

The number of households in temporary housing has reached a new high in Brighton and Hove.

People across Sussex and Hampshire looked skyward as Britain experienced its most dramatic solar eclipse since 1999.

Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a cyclist was seriously injured in a collision in Cosham.

A pilot was taken to hospital after a light aircraft crashed while landing near Billingshurst.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man was injured in a reported stabbing in Worthing.

Portsmouth Water has advised residents on how to reduce their water usage while confirming there are no plans for a hosepipe ban.

On the 5th August, Lewes District Council’s planning committee green lit proposals to build a five-court padel facility on part of a site used as a HGV driver training centre.

A man formerly of Hurstpierpoint who sexually abused two girls known to him has been jailed.

A man who threatened staff at a Post Office and caused criminal damage has been jailed.

A motorist has appeared in court and admitted causing the death of a highways worker by dangerous driving.

A Brighton family who lost their teenage daughter to a brain tumour earlier this year are preparing to take on a gruelling 100km endurance challenge in her memory.

Charities and community organisations across the Isle of Wight are being invited to meet potential funders and learn more about accessing financial support at an event in Newport.

A prominent site on Worthing promenade is being opened up for investment, with organisations invited to help shape its future.

South East Coast Ambulance Service has strengthened measures to protect its staff following a review into violence and aggression experienced by frontline workers.

​​​​​​​A groundbreaking research study led by Sussex mental health specialists is taking cognitive behavioural therapy beyond the consulting room to help people living with psychosis rebuild their lives.

The Chichester Harbour Conservancy has spoken against plans to build 85 homes on land within the Harbour National Landscape.

Airshow fans in Eastbourne will not see the Red Arrows this year after poor weather delayed the team’s return from North America.

Temperatures could soar to 36C across parts of the South this week as Britain heads towards a possible fifth heatwave of the summer.

People across West Sussex are being asked how the county should respond to longer heatwaves, an increasing risk of flooding and growing pressure on water supplies.

A 16-year-old boy has been found guilty of murdering Sussex teenager Joshua Ingram in a knife attack prosecutors said was triggered by an unpaid £20 cannabis debt.

Police say 25 people were arrested during Brighton and Hove Pride, as hundreds of thousands attended events across the city.

New teams of Highway Rangers are taking to the streets of West Sussex to tackle the smaller problems that can leave neighbourhoods looking untidy or neglected.

Four Hampshire and Isle of Wight police officers are being investigated for potential gross misconduct following the death of a 23-year-old man who became unwell after being arrested in Portsmouth.

People could soon be able to exercise for free while looking out across the sea under plans for a new outdoor gym on the East Sussex coast.

A man in his twenties has died following a single-vehicle collision near a West Sussex village.

Eastbourne’s all-weather lifeboat has joined a major international rescue operation after a boat carrying more than 150 migrants caught fire in the English Channel.

Campaigners have been refused permission to continue their legal challenge against plans to expand Gatwick Airport in West Sussex.

CCTV, protective screens and stronger fencing are to be tested at roadworks in West Sussex following abuse and threats directed at highways workers.

Weekly food waste collections will begin in parts of Adur and Worthing from September, as councils prepare to introduce the new service in phases.

Four homes have been seriously damaged after a large fire spread through a residential street in Crawley.

A specialist heat chamber at the University of Chichester has been featured in a new documentary following an athlete’s preparations for one of the world’s most demanding endurance races.

Plans for a new indoor padel centre at Plumpton Racecourse are set to go before councillors this week.

A three-year-old boy has been seriously injured in a collision involving a van at a campsite in West Sussex.

A police cordon was put in place inside the Beacon shopping centre in Eastbourne following an altercation involving a group of young men.

Supercars will take to the Goodwood Motor Circuit as a free family event raises money to provide beds for children in need.

A multimillion-pound scheme to strengthen Worthing’s coastal defences and protect homes and businesses from the sea has been completed.

A specialist heat chamber at the University of Chichester has been featured in a documentary about preparing for one of the world’s toughest ultramarathons.

A senior fire officer from West Sussex is preparing to kayak 30 miles along the Sussex coast to raise money for charity.

Plans to close tower blocks in Somerstown have left some residents “absolutely buzzing”, while others are sad to leave “beautiful friendships” behind.

A proposal has been submitted for a new sports centre at Plumpton Racecourse.

A new music festival featuring Tinchy Stryder, Toploader, DJ Luck & MC Neat and Ultrabeat is preparing to take over Chichester.

Plans have been submitted for a new MRI department at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth to improve diagnostic services for patients.

Brighton Pride is back this weekend, with thousands of people expected to fill the city for two days of music, colour and celebration.

Police have issued reassurance following reports that a girl was offered a lift by a stranger in a vehicle in East Wittering.

Pinks Parlour in Bognor Regis has announced the immediate closure of its popular ice cream venue after more than seven years in business.

Residents living near Haslar Immigration Removal Centre say they have become “prisoners in their own homes” amid controversial plans to expand the site.

People attending Brighton & Hove Pride this weekend are being urged to plan ahead, stay safe and only use A&E for serious or life-threatening emergencies.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has renewed its appeal for people to help prevent wildfires as extreme heat and prolonged dry weather continue across the county.

Handmade hearts, messages and bookmarks are being hidden across the Chichester district as part of a summer campaign aimed at bringing some joy to local families.

A man has been arrested at the roadside after a car failed to stop in Crawley.

Police are seeking to identify this man in connection with enquiries after a robbery at The Range in Newhaven.

Police are seeking to identify these men in connection with enquiries following a high-value theft series in Midhurst.

Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have officially been declared in drought as exceptionally dry and hot weather continues to affect water supplies, farming and wildlife across England.

Sussex businesses will have a say on decisions made by a new strategic authority.

The Sussex & Brighton Strategic Authority (SBSA) board has committed to investing £3.3million for 12 new fire appliances for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (WSFRS) ahead of the service’s transfer to the authority, April 1, 2027.

Worthing Football Club is receiving specialist sports science support from the University of Brighton as it prepares for its first season in the National League.

A woman from Chichester has described the frightening moment she realised a rapidly spreading wildfire was threatening the area around her holiday accommodation in Spain. V2 Radio's Peter Phillips is reporting from Portugal on his journey through France and Spain.

Police in Hampshire are continuing to support a US investigation into the murder of a woman from Portsmouth.

Residents are being asked to help select 29 practical improvements for Bognor Regis ahead of the town’s royal centenary in 2029.

Sussex Police says the presence of armed officers at Brighton Pride is standard practice for a major event.

West Sussex homelessness charity Turning Tides has launched its annual Harvest Appeal, calling on residents, businesses, schools and community groups to donate food and essential items.

Detectives in Sussex have renewed their appeal over the unsolved murder of eight-year-old Vishal Mehrotra, whose remains were found near Rogate in 1982.

Crawley MP Peter Lamb has welcomed new government proposals aimed at preventing children and young people from becoming addicted to nicotine.

Young people in Worthing have launched a pioneering safety app designed to help children and teenagers find trusted places when they feel vulnerable or unsafe.

More than 500 households could have to move out of four council tower blocks in Somerstown and Buckland under plans to retire the ageing buildings by 2030.

Hampshire and West Sussex have been named among the ten riskiest counties in Great Britain for cyclists, while neighbouring East Sussex recorded a significantly lower casualty rate.

An amber heat-health alert has come into force across the South as temperatures continue to rise.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a motorcyclist was seriously injured in a collision at the Portfield Roundabout in Chichester.

West Sussex County Council is changing the way it maintains the county’s highways as it seeks to reduce the impact of extreme weather on roads, potholes and drainage systems.

Campaigners opposing plans for 3,000 homes west of Ifield intend to call for a judicial review if the application is given the go-ahead.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have met British and Ukrainian military personnel aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth in Portsmouth.

A mother of two has praised Sussex Police after her attacker was handed a ten-year restraining order.

A man who nearly died after a van driver high on cocaine crashed into him in Hampshire has spoken of his anger at being left with life-changing injuries.

Two applications to build up to 120 and 130 homes close to the Pagham Waste-water Treatment Works have been refused by Arun District Council.

Council staff in Portsmouth took almost 7,000 more sick days over 12 months, as long-term absences and mental health workforce issues persist.

A letter written by a second-class passenger shortly after he boarded the Titanic in Southampton has sold for £60,000 at auction.

Sussex Police has adopted the Forcer Protocol, a pioneering initiative designed to improve the identification and support of armed forces veterans, particularly those at risk of harm.

An amber heat-health alert will come into force across the South tomorrow as the fourth heatwave of the year approaches.

Sussex Police has said public safety remains its top priority as Brighton and Hove prepares to host Pride this weekend.