People in the South-East at greatest risk of developing Type 2 diabetes are set to benefit from increased help to avoid the disease.

Tackling Type 2 diabetes is a major health challenge, with 430,000 people at risk of developing diabetes across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Across the country, around 22,000 people with diabetes die early each year and Type 2 diabetes is a leading cause of preventable sight loss in people of working age.

It also puts people at greater risk of suffering kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes.

While Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented and is not linked to lifestyle, Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable through lifestyle changes.

The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme being launched across Sussex, Surrey and Kent will support those at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes to maintain a healthy weight and be more active, which can significantly reduce the risk of someone developing the disease.

The programme, which is funded by NHS England and free for participants, will roll out across the country by 2020.

The South-East is one of the first areas across the country which will be offering this support and is currently the largest implementation site as part of wave one of the programme, covering 21 clinical commissioning groups and six local authorities.

The South East Clinical Network at NHS England, which brings together clinicians, patients, carers and health service commissioners from across Kent, Surrey and Sussex, is leading the local implementation of the programme, which will be delivered by Ingeus - a leading provider of person-centred services including employment and health programmes, services for young people, training and skills support, and rehabilitative services.

Around 8,000 people each year across the South-East are expected to be benefiting from the new NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme by 2019, with the programme to begin working with local people referred onto the scheme from September this year.

Commenting on the benefits of the new programme, Dr Alison Barnett, chair or the South-East steering group for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, said: “We estimate that there are over 430,000 people living in Sussex, Surrey and Kent who are at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. The Healthier You programme will give them the opportunity to participate in a structured course of 13 sessions, running over 9 months, which will help them make changes to their lifestyle that are proven to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.“

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The Perseid meteor shower promises to be even more spectacular than usual this year.

The annual space show is now underway and will peak on Thursday night (August 11) and into the early hours of Friday when up to 200 shooting stars per hour - double the usual amount - are set to dart across the Sussex night sky.

The Perseid meteor shower occurs when tiny fragments from the tail of the Swift-Tuttle comet collides with the Earth’s atmosphere - producing fireballs.

NASA said this year’s show will be better than most because the gravity of Jupiter, the solar system’s largest planet, will pull the particles closer.

Earth will pass through the middle of the comet’s dust trail instead of just grazing it. If cloud stays away, Perseid viewing conditions should be perfect.

A Met Office spokesman urged residents to wrap up warm, go outside, lie back and look up during the early hours.

The spokesman added: “To see the meteor shower, you don’t need a telescope, binoculars or any other equipment – all you need is your eyes.

“You don’t need to look in any particular direction as meteors appear randomly anywhere in the sky.”

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Police have arrested a man wanted in connection with a ‘stand off’ in Smallfield last month, the force has confirmed.

Officers carried out a raid on a home in Careys Road, at 6am on July 28.

Police said a person was seen inside the property with a suspected firearm.

Armed police along with dogs units and the police helicopter were called and surrounded the building.

They were there for 10 hours before it emerged the property was empty and the suspect had escaped.

Police released an appeal to trace Paul Hodge following the incident and have spent the past 11 days looking for him.

Surrey Police said it carried out a further raid in Dormansland over the weekend to try and locate the wanted man.

A spokesman for Surrey Police said: “A 57-year-old man wanted by police following an incident in Smallfield has been located and arrested.

“The man, who is currently in police custody, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm in connection with an incident at an address in Careys Wood on Thursday, 28 July.

“A 53-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender following a large scale operation in Dormansland over the weekend to locate the wanted man.

“He has been released on bail until Friday 9 September while enquiries continue.”

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Avid Pokemon fan Danny Woolven, 15, managed to capture a Pokemon 450 feet over Sussex on Thursday (August 4).

Prior to the British Airways i360 being opened to the public on Thursday, Danny from Telscombe Cliffs went up with his mother, Paula, and friends Cameron and Katrina Sinclair, after Paula won a flight on the ‘Community Champions’ trip.

Danny was determined to see if he could be the first to ‘catch’ a Pokemon at the new attraction, and at the top, he was able to log in to the phone app and even acquire some pokeballs from the pokestop at the base of the tower.

The Pokemon that appeared was aptly aquatic – but sadly the weakest Pokemon in the game. The Magikarp is a pathetic looking goldfish, laying on his side, with his only attack listed as ‘splash’!

There is some good news to the story though. If Danny catches another 399 Magikarp, he would be able to evolve the creature he named ‘i360 Top’ into a fearsome Gyarados, a dragon like sea-serpent who is one of the game’s strongest creatures.

“I won’t evolve i360 Top though” said Danny, who attends PCS school in Peacehaven “he’s a great souvenir to remember our flight with, even if he is a bit wet!”

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The Vapour Room has opened a new branch in Burgess Hill, selling electronic cigarettes, e-juice flavourings and other vaping accessories.

Daniel Wickens, director of the store in Mill Road, told the Middy that the company has outlets in Eastbourne, Worthing, Hastings, Portsmouth, and Newport on the Isle of Wight.

“The Vapour Room shops have been recognised in national awards and last year we were voted the 3rd best juice in the country,” he said.

“As has been well published recently there are significant health benefits to vaping as an alternative to smoking, which we hope the people of Burgess Hill can benefit from.”

E-cigarettes use a battery to heat up a small tank of liquid nicotine, producing vapour which the smoker inhales. This means they do not have to ingest the other harmful substances released by a conventional cigarette.

Visit: http://thevapourroomonline.co.uk/

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Kevin Garside from our sister paper the iNews is at the Rio Olympic Games and will be sending us a regular column.

The people you meet on a bus eh? So there I am exhausted by the effort of covering the Copacabana cycling beat for two days when a dopey photographer plonks herself next to me.

Believe me that is the worst thing that can happen on a bus full of media workers. I’m there with my notepad and pen inconveniencing nobody while Ms Photographer comes laden with lenses, tripods, camera cases and sundry items without which no pics would ever see the light of day. Or so she explained.

“Use your iPhone, love. Works for me. And you won’t have anybody’s eye out as you take your seat,” I said, pleased with my smug putdown. “Where you from?” she asked. And so it began, an exchange that would eventually identify my new travel companion as the women’s Olympic road race champion from the 1992 Barcelona Games.

It just goes to show you should never judge a book by her cover. It is difficult to reconcile the 51-year-old cyclist-turned-photographer with the heroine that had Australia swooning when she returned the first Aussie gold medal of those games. Cathy Watt didn’t need me to tell her that. And what a hoot she turned out to be, taking my initial hauter with a pinch of sodium chloride.

I was quickly on to Google to verify her story, and there she was rocking the cropped blonde look. She was now my discovery and I wasted no time in alerting my chums in the seats about me, taking ownership of her story as if I had crossed the line first.

Again she smiled, no doubt having spent a post-Olympic life running into clots like me at every turn. Tool that I am, I told her to Google me, to look out for a picture of yours truly throwing a James Bond pose in a dinner suit alongside Australia’s ex-F1 driver Mark Webber. I thought the Aussie connection would swing it. She was kind enough to say she would. That’s what champions do.

The good, the bad and the ugly

It happened last night, the tap on the shoulder about which the alarmists had been over briefing since the dawn of Brazil time, and I had been dreading. Don’t resist. Give them whatever you have. It is better to walk away minus possessions than to become another Rio crime statistic.

“Is this yours, sir?” asked the Rio native in perfect English, holding my smart phone aloft. I had done my party trick, left it on the restaurant table. Pre-Olympic expertise had this lawless brigand making off with my valuable hardware while clumping me on the back of the head.

In truth the majority in Rio go about their business just like you and I, the good, the bad, the ugly distributed in much the same proportion as Blighty. If they can, Rio man and woman will do you a good turn not bad, unless of course, the realities of life in the margins have brutalised the good out of them.

A 29-year-old Crawley man has been arrested over what police say appeared to have been a ‘road rage’ attack on the A264 at Copthorne last night.

Police say they are seeking witnesses after a 67-year-old motorist was attacked in the incident at around 10.30pm yesterday.

The victim, a man from Gloucestershire, was travelling to East Sussex with his wife, also 67, and had been followed off the M23 motorway by another car.

A police spokesman said: “It was reported that the victim was overtaken by this car, before the driver got out and attacked him and then drove off.

The victim received first aid but did not attend hospital.”

The Crawley man arrested on suspicion of assault is currently in custody while enquiries continue, say police.

Anyone who saw what happened or noticed either vehicle being driven before the incident is asked to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101, quoting serial 1492 of 08/08.

Alternatively they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 (www.crimestoppers-uk.org).

As one pedals relentlessly through life it is vital to take stock once in awhile just to make sure you don’t go over the handlebars.

The tactic I use to ensure that I have not veered completely off course is to ask myself what others would do when faced with a similar predicament. These human benchmarks are almost always people who I would consider playing dead to avoid: UKIP members, Big Brother contestants, anyone with a tattooed face and Southampton supporters.

My rule is to do exactly the opposite to them and, generally speaking, it should mean that I keep my nose clean. In the past few months there has only one person who I have needed to hold a mirror up to - the man who stands a very real chance of becoming the leader of the free world, Donald Trump.

He may be a billionaire with his own private jet and millions of adoring, if not slightly deranged, supporters but with his every utterance I become more and more convinced that we are from different planets.

His pledge to build a giant wall to keep Mexicans out, his Stone Age views on women, not to mention his inability to take any form of criticism have made for a bewildering US presidential race but it was his reaction to a crying baby which will stick in the memory of many.

To his critics his request for a mum and her wailing offspring to be removed from one of his tiresome public appearances was an example of how out of touch he really is with the rest of the world. There cannot be a more natural sound in the world and nobody with even a smidgen of empathy can take umbrage, can they?

The trouble is Trump isn’t on his own when it comes to intolerance to screaming sprogs and as much as I was aghast at his behaviour during the speech in Virginia I am sure there was a hardcore of people across who will have tutted ‘Who takes a baby to a political rally?’

As someone with a one-year-old I am pretty relaxed when it comes to other people’s children crying but am all too aware that this view is not shared by everybody. It is why most parents of young children never leave the house without at least four dummies, a box of sugar free snacks and a bag full of toys - anything which will prevent a meltdown.

There are some people, many of whom have families of their own, who believe that young children should only be allowed in restaurants which serve nuggets but my view is that if you want to avoid young families then don’t visit an eatery, which has high chairs, during the daytime.

Society has long since moved away from the view that children should be seen and not heard and family entertainment is now big business. In the past two decades working lives have changed completely with employers recognising the need to give more support to parents.

But, unfortunately the undercurrent of intolerance to others, something which in this country ultimately led to the Brexit vote, is as prevalent in society as it has been in living memory.

While I do understand that it is increasingly difficult to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet, next time you feel your blood boil due to the crying little one at the next table, remember that is exactly how Donald Trump would react.

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Concrete barriers will be in place on a Sussex seafront during this week’s Airbourne in a bid to prevent a Nice style terrorist attack, police have revealed.

Sussex Police said while the nationally assessed terrorist threat to the four day festival of flight in Eastbourne is unchanged since last year, “lessons had been learned from recent events abroad and additional security measures including concrete barriers would be in place”.

More than 80 people died when a truck smashed into a crowd in the French resort in a terrorist attack on revellers enjoying a fireworks display last month.

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line Eastbourne seafront for Airbourne, which runs from Thursday August 11 until Sunday August 14.

Eastbourne Police chief Emma Brice said that as in previous years, the force’s priority is the well-being of all concerned, be they visitors to the show and seaside resort, or members of the local community.

“For several months now we’ve been working closely with the organisers and partner agencies to ensure a safe and enjoyable Airbourne for all,” said Chief Inspector Brice.

“In terms of security, where public safety has been significantly compromised as seen in recent events abroad, we’ve looked at lessons to be learned and reviewed our own plans to keep Airbourne as safe as we can.

“While the nationally assessed terrorist threat to Airbourne is unchanged from 2015, we will have some additional security measures in place. For instance, this year we will be using some concrete barriers.”

Police have neither confirmed or denied that armed officers will be at the event.

Chief Insp Brice said, “Most people are unlikely to notice any difference from previous years and none of the changes we have made should affect the enjoyment of people attending the event.”

A spokesperson at Eastbourne Borough Council, which organises Airbourne, said, “We’re pleased to have had the opportunity to work with Sussex Police on key aspects of this popular event.

“We will have in place reasonable and proportionate measures to ensure that all attending feel confident they are visiting a safe environment.”

Chief Insp Brice said while stewards and security staff have been thoroughly trained to recognise and respond to any incidents that may arise, and officers and resources are being carefully deployed, visitors and residents can also play their part in keeping things safe.

“For example, we’d ask people to take care of their belongings, follow personal safety advice and immediately report any issues or suspicious behaviour to event staff or police. In an emergency, always dial 999.”

To help safeguard children in particular it’s suggested that parents and guardians make plans with their youngsters about what to do if they become separated.

Police cadets will be handing out free wristbands on which responsible adults can write a contact phone number should a child go astray. There will also be a lost people marquee and rendezvous at Wilmington Square, opposite the Wish Tower, on Eastbourne seafront.

People arriving by car are asked to allow extra time for their journeys and to follow the advice of stewards and police officers to try to minimise any disruption or delays.

For more information about policing aspects of Airbourne, please call the force’s non-emergency number 101 or email district.eastbourne@sussex.pnn.police.uk

Claims on various media websites are being made that West Sussex astronaut Tim Peake is on the wanted list for the BBC’s next season of Strictly Come Dancing.

Social media has also been full of claims that Major Peake could be competing on the show later this year.

However, it has also been pointed out that after six months of life on the International Space Station Tim Peake’s muscles are still recovering and it could take many months before he is in the sort of shape required to train and perform.

So far only Labour politician Ed Balls has been officially confirmed to star in Strictly, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation.

A ‘source’ is being quoted as saying: “He was obviously huge this year and would be a dream signing. But considering the man is on something like a two-year rehab to get walking properly, we might have to wait until next year to see him do the paso doble.”

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Southern Rail has announced Falmer station will close from 5pm tonight (August 9), despite a Brighton and Hove Albion match this evening.

The last train from Brighton to Falmer is at 4.45pm, three hours before Albion play Colchester United in the EFL Trophy at 7.45pm.

Govia Thameslink, the rail operator in dispute with the RMT union, has said: “Due to the RMT dispute severely impacting train services and in discussions with police, their advice is that on safety grounds no trains should stop at Falmer after 5pm on upcoming match days. We are sorry that we cannot offer a normal service to fans. We are talking to the club about the implications for them.”

Brighton and Hove Albion has already said the five-day rail strike could cost the club £300,000 in lost revenue and additional costs.

The club has set up park and ride facilities around the city in order to prepare for tonight’s match and Friday’s game against Nottingham Forest, in the face of rail disruption.

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Southern bosses have urged unions to ‘come back to the table and talk’ during the second day of this week’s rail strike.

The RMT union started the week-long walkout on Monday (August 6) over Govia Thameslink Railway’s plans to change the role of conductors on many of its services.

Talks broke down on ending the dispute last Friday, but now GTR has urged the RMT to return to the negotiating table.

Charles Horton, chief executive officer at GTR, called their latest offer ‘comprehensive and incredibly fair’, with no compulsory redundancies, no reduction in salary, and no compulsory location moves, and urged the RMT to ‘come back to the table to talk, have constructive and productive discussions on the way forward and shake hands on a deal’.

But RMT general secretary Mick Cash accused the Government of wrecking the talks last week, which could have led to the union calling off strike action.

He argued that there was ‘no serious intent’ by GTR to engage in genuine negotiations, and he would have thought they would have accepted the union’s offer, similar to the one that ended a dispute in Scotland.

Mr Cash said: “I have been involved in countless negotiations and have never witnessed a farce like this.”

Rail passengers have faced months of disruption due to staff shortages since the dispute started over GTR’s plans to make drivers on Southern services responsible for opening and closes the train doors.

The Government has faced repeated calls for GTR to be stripped of its franchise, including from this newspaper.

But in a letter to MPs, rail minister Paul Maynard said: “I do not believe that GTR should simply cave in to pressure from the RMT.

“They are clearly trying to resist logical and necessary changes that will bring benefits for passengers.”

Earlier today Southern’s passenger services director Alex Foulds said: “While the RMT union is hell bent on disrupting our passengers’ lives with this needless strike, we continue to provide the best possible service we can in the circumstances.

“We urge them to call off this wretched strike and sit down and talk with us to end this dispute.”

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Surrey Police are appealing for information from the public to help locate a Crawley man wanted in connection with a number of offences – including threats to kill and an assault in Merstham.

A police statement says that officers would like to speak to 24-year-old Harry Brackpool, in connection with several of alleged violent offences in Merstham, Three Bridges and Crawley between July 30 and July 31 this year.

He is described as white, of slim build, 5ft 9in tall and has green eyes and light brown hair.

He is currently believed to be living in the Three Bridges or Crawley areas and Surrey Police officers are liaising with Sussex Police colleagues as part of ongoing inquiries to track him down.

Officers are asking for anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to contact us immediately.

A spokesperson said: “If you think you have the information we need to find Harry, we urge you to contact us on 101 quoting crime reference number 45160066150, or you can use the online reporting system found at https://report.police.uk/ and enter the reference number in the ‘Additional information’ section.

“Information can alternatively be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

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Commuters had their spirits raised at rush hour last night (Monday August 9) as three leading drag queen performers surprised travellers at Victoria Train Station with an impromptu rendition of disco classic ‘I Will Survive’, in a show of solidarity amidst the ongoing Southern Rail service disruption and five day strike.

As seen in Absolutely Fabulous The Movie, semi-finalist on Britain’s Got Talent 2014 and second place act in Ru Paul’s Drag Race UK 2015, drag artist La Voix led the rousing chorus of Gloria Gaynor’s iconic song, supported by two other prominent London drag performers, Nancy Clench and Vanity von Glow.

A press release from coach company National Express says the train station rush hour sing-along attempted to lighten the mood following weeks of frustration for train travellers, including those journeying between London and Brighton, who have seen Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR, operators of Southern) bring in a reduced timetable to cope with weeks of disruption to Southern services.

And this week, further misery ensues as the RMT union has begun strike action for a planned period of five days, starting on Monday and leading to limited or no services running on some routes.

The release adds that in addition to the public chorus of ‘I Will Survive... the rail chaos!’, people at Victoria Train Station had the chance to snap up one of 100 free coach journeys on National Express to anywhere in the UK, or one of 3,000 discount vouchers offering 50% off between London and Brighton.

The coach company has already added thousands of additional seats to its network between London and Brighton to help cope with demand caused by the rail disruption. The overarching message of the stunt was ‘travel between London and Brighton shouldn’t be a drag’, with the following campaign hashtag used - #notsuchadrag.

Tom Stables, Managing Director for National Express UK Coach, commented: “The unexpected performance and our on-the-spot coach ticket giveaway was our way of showing support for frustrated commuters.

“We believe travel should be stress-free and hope the event during last night’s rush hour raised a smile and highlighted there is another way for many people who have had enough of the rail uncertainty and delays.”

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Southern Rail has apologised after a conductor left a boy stranded on a railway platform.

Christopher Prior, 39, his girlfriend Tanja Kleinemeier, 42, and his brother Darron Prior, 47, wanted to get a train from Arundel to Christopher’s home near East Worthing railway station on July 31.

But due to cancellations by Southern Rail they had to cycle to Ford station and caught the 3.36pm train.

Tanja’s son Bradley Leggatt, 11, who lives with his mother in Durrington, joined them at Goring station.

As they arrived at East Worthing station, Christopher said they could not get off because ‘someone had blocked their bikes in’.

He added that Bradley managed to get off but the conductor closed the doors before he and his girlfriend could get out, and then signalled for the train to leave despite Bradley being stood on the platform banging on the doors.

He said that Bradley ‘was in tears’ as the train pulled away: “He was right at the door when it moved off, so it was probable that he could’ve fallen under. The guard isn’t supposed to move the train off until people are back behind the line I believe.”

Christopher, his girlfriend and Darron had to get off at Lancing, and as there wasn’t another train back for more than an hour they had to cycle back to East Worthing station. Christopher’s mother Una Goff met Bradley at East Worthing station.

Darron confronted the conductor at Lancing station. He said he refused to give his name and that he ‘didn’t see’ Bradley. Christopher said: “He said he looked up and down the station platform but he couldn’t have because it isn’t that big. It’s probably about four or five carriages long. You can’t miss a boy smacking on a train door.

“There needs to be better training for staff, especially with customer relations. To brush off what happened was really bad.”

A spokesperson for Govia Thameslink Railway, which runs Southern Rail, said: “I can confirm that we have been in contact with the family and apologised to them, including Bradley, and offered them £50 in goodwill vouchers. We’ve spoken with the conductor in order to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

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Parents in the South-East are struggling with the spiralling costs to get their children on the road driving, according to new research.

A survey of 1,000 parents carried out by car website NFDA Trusted Dealers found that parents are struggling as insurance prices for young drivers have increased by 13 per cent on last year.

Figures from the region show more than half of parents in the South-East (53.6%) have installed a company ‘black box’ or dashboard camera in an effort to reduce their child’s insurance costs.

One in five (19.8%) have also agreed to a high excess to reduce costs, while more than 40 per cent of parents in the area (42.3%) have put their names on their child’s insurance policy to lower payments.

Learning to drive now costs the average new driver around £7,000, with insurance and the cost of a car making up the majority of the total and the Bank of Mum and Dad are picking up much of the cost for young motorists, with almost than three-quarters of parents in the South-East (73.5%) saying they paid for their child’s driving lessons.

One third of parents (33%) also helped their child with a deposit for a car and more than half (52.3%) of parents in the region revealed they pay out for regular maintenance checks, car accessories and cleaning.

In addition to helping out with the cost of insuring and maintaining a car, more than three-quarters of parents in the South-East (80%) also help their children buy their first car, with one in five parents (18%) prepared to cough up to buy their child a brand new motor.

Neil Addley, Managing Director of NFDA Trusted Dealers, said: “The survey findings show that each year the costs associated with learning to drive rises, putting a strain not only on learners, but also on the Bank of Mum and Dad. Increasing prices means there is often a temptation to scrimp on some things, such as the quality of the car, but this can lead to high running costs, leaving you out of pocket in the long term.

“Trusted Dealers is committed to helping young motorists get on the road and all our listings are competitively priced and adhere to a unique set of standards, our 10 Points of Difference. These safeguards ensure that you get the best quality used vehicle for your kids, at a good price.”

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The woman who died after being struck by a generator that fell off a truck in Sussex on Monday (August 8) has been named.

Emma Beeney, 40, was walking with her husband Rob, 44, at around 7am when she was hit outside Etchingham church on High Street.

The Army warrant officer of Willow Close died at the scene and her husband, who is an Army chef, is in hospital in a stable condition having suffered serious injuries.

A 42-year-old man from Ashford, Kent, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and is in custody.

Eyewitnesses said a man was seen jumping over the church wall to avoid the generator.

Etchingham Parish Council vice-chairman Annette Childs said the whole village has been shocked by what happened.

“She was known by a lot of people in the village but it’s a very tragic event,” she told the Observer.

“We’re a very close knit and very small village and I think people will be very saddened by this incident.

“It was very early in the morning and the people on the scene seem predominantly commuters as they were going to the station.”

The couple from Willow Close were believed to have been walking to the railway station when they were hit by the generator.

Etchingham Parish Church will be open all day on Saturday (August 13) for people to light candles in memory of Mrs Beeney and vicar Sally Epps will lead a service in the morning at 10.30am.

Cllr Childs expected a lot of villagers to attend.

“I know how saddened everybody is in the village as we’re a close knit community and it has been terribly shocking for everybody, whether they knew the family or not,” she said.

Emergency services were called to the scene near the level crossing just before 6.55am, after reports of two people being struck by a generator.

Commuters performed CPR and first aid on the injured pair before the paramedics and an air ambulance arrived.

The generator came loose from the rear of the Ford Transit Flat Bed lorry near the level crossing.

Chief Inspector Rosie Ross said: “This was a tragic incident and we are investigating the circumstances.

“We would like to hear from anyone who saw the lorry before the incident or what actually happened.”

An Army spokesman said: “We can confirm that a serving soldier has died following an accident while off-duty. Sussex Police are investigating.”

Bistro@TheStation owner Paul Collins described the pair as ‘amazing people’ and everyone was in shock.

“Rob and Emma were a big part of the community. They did all the food at the summer fete,” the 44-year-old told The Daily Mail.

“They did a barbecue during the day and a curry at night. They were massive participants in everything that the village does.

“They are amazing people. Everyone is in real shock.

“She was walking him to work, they were going to the train together with their dog - a cocker spaniel. It shouldn’t have happened.”

Paul Hunt arrived at the scene soon after it had happened and said what he saw was ‘horrible’.

“I came upon the incident minutes after it had happened and there were a lot of people milling around,” he told the Kent and Sussex Courier.

“The generator was lying on the pavement and it also had a large pneumatic breaker attached to it.

“The lorry was parked up past the level crossing. The injured man was on all fours and had a head wound.

“The lady was in bad shape – she was lying on her back and was having trouble breathing.

“It was horrible. Then the ambulance arrived and told everyone to move on.”

Anyone with information is asked to email collision.appeal@sussex.pnn.police.uk or ring 101, quoting Operation Blaydon.

Etchingham ‘shocked and saddened’ by fatal generator fall

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A historic photograph of a Minstrel group performing in a Sussex town has been removed from an information board after a complaint.

The illustration of Uncle Ben’s Eastbourne Minstrels on the town’s seafront had been included on an East of the Pier Group project information board on the promenade opposite the Pavilion, which was devoted to the entertainment forms of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The information boards are part of a heritage trail to bring history to the streets of Eastbourne and show the importance of the area east of the pier in years gone by.

But since one board in particular was put up, Eastbourne Borough Council, acting on a complaint, has removed the illustration and replaced it with a picture of an all-white Pierrot show.

Theatre historians Edward Thomas, John Pick and Brian Freeland, who have between them spent many years researching, publishing and talking about Eastbourne’s theatrical history, are furious at what they call an act of censorship.

“It must be assumed with reasonable certainty that the photograph has been removed because of the act of white people in a minstrel troupe having blacked up their faces,” said the trio.

“If the complaint, and the acceptance of it by the relevant council official, has been made on such grounds, a veritable can of cultural worms is opened up.

“To begin with, research has shown that most of the early Minstrel Troupes in the USA, and a certain number performing in UK resorts, comprised black, not made-up white, faces.

“Furthermore, whether the personnel involved were black or white, burnt cork was applied to the faces of all.

“Eastbourne should be proud of its rich theatrical history and should not, from some misguided notion of political correctness, attempt to rewrite it.

“We ask that the photograph of the Minstrel Troupe be put back where it belongs.”

A spokesperson at Eastbourne Borough Council said, “Soon after the Heritage Trail signs were erected the council received complaints regarding the content of the board at the Pavilion Garden.

“The council spoke to the chair of the East of the Pier Group and it was agreed that one image on the board would be replaced. It was felt that the replacement image still reflected the theme.

“Please be assured that Eastbourne is proud of its rich theatrical heritage and the replacement image captures this.

“The Heritage Trail is a fantastic project that has been well received by both residents and visitors and we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that contributed to the content of both the Heritage Trail and the history corners.”

The Heritage Trail Project was funded solely through the Pier Tourism Fund, which is the £2million given to the town to boost tourism in the aftermath of the pier fire.

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Neighbours have expressed their shock over a man’s death which police are treating as murder.

Police launched a murder investigation yesterday after reports of a man’s body was found in the doorway of a house on Osmonde Close, Worthing. Click here to read the full report.

David Alekna, 27, lives in Centrecourt Road, which backs onto Osmonde Close. He said he knew the occupants and paid tribute to his deceased neighbour.

“He was very polite. He always said ‘hi’ or ‘good morning’,” said Mr Alekna.

He added: “I didn’t know what happened – I saw the police were there and thought it was a suicide. It’s terrible.”

Another neighbour living a few doors down from the dead man’s house, who asked not to be named, paid tribute to the hard work of the police.

“The police are doing their jobs and getting on with it – they’ve been out there all night.”

But she added that her three children had been left distressed by the incident.

“You always hear about these things on TV or the news but it’s different when it is right there,” she said.

The woman added that she also knew the occupants of the house but did not wish to comment further until police had formally identified the dead man.

Helen Sadler, of Henty Road, Worthing, was walking her dog, Chloe, on Tuesday when she saw the police cars in Osmonde Close.

She said: “It is dreadful, absolutely horrendous. It’s such a quiet little backwater.”

Sussex Police has asked anyone with information about the incident to contact them, either by sending an email to 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk, or by calling 101 quoting Operation Waterhouse.

Neighbours have spoken of their shock following the incident.

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Further strike action affecting Southern services has been suspended as rail bosses and union officials are set to resume talks.

The RMT union started the five-day walkout on Monday (August 6) against Govia Thameslink Railway’s plans to change the role of conductors, but action planned for tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday has been called off as both sides have agreed to resume negotiations.

Southern said that Thursday’s services would still be running to the strike timetable but it would do its best to add services, while on Friday it plans to revert to the revised timetable operating before the strike.

A spokesman for Acas, the mediation service hosting the talks, said: “Southern and the RMT are returning to talks tomorrow under the auspices of Acas. Strike action has been suspended for Thursday and Friday.”

A spokesman for Southern added: “We are encouraged that the RMT has accepted our offer to resume talks at ACAS and has agreed to call off its strike action. For our passengers sake we truly hope these talks will be productive and bring this long running dispute to an end.

“At present, the strike timetable is still in the industry train planning systems for Thursday and Friday.

“Regrettably, this means tomorrow’s service will be based upon the present strike timetable but we will do our very best to add services in and extend the hours of operation wherever possible.

“On Friday we plan to revert to the revised timetable operating before the strike. We will update our website www.southernrailway.com as further information becomes available.”

More to follow.

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