Archive

  • Alert over tribunals

    Government plans to improve employment tribunal procedures could lead to a "barrage" of new claims, the TUC warned today. The TUC said changes being introduced over the next 18 months, including a three-step procedure for discipline or grievance issues

  • Bank holiday crowds head for shops

    Sales and the threat of poor weather led to more people heading to the shops over the Bank Holiday weekend, a survey says. FootFall, which measures the number of people in shopping centres, said there were just under 1 per cent more shoppers out on Saturday

  • Confidence hits four-year low

    Hopes of an upturn in the economy have been dealt a blow after research showed business confidence is at its lowest level for four years. According to accountants BDO Stoy Hayward's latest quarterly business trends report, both optimism and output levels

  • Men in vests

    Graham J Mayer seems to be oblivious to the unwritten law that half-naked men are not a welcome sight in food stores (Letters May 1). Why keep pursuing the matter with Asda when as far back as June 1999 he was shown the door? Was it really too much trouble

  • Coppell to stay if offer's right

    Steve Coppell is prepared to carry on at Albion, provided the terms are right. His current 12-month contract runs out in October and chairman Dick Knight has indicated a longer term deal will be put on the table. Coppell, who just failed to save Albion

  • Naivety over Saddam weapons

    If Mrs E Hill (Letters, April 30) thinks weapons of mass destruction will not be found in Iraq, she is a little naive. They will be found because Holy President Bush must not be proved wrong. He will arrange for such weapons to be brought from the US

  • Blair faces hospital revolt

    Tony Blair was today trying to save plans to transform a Sussex hospital into a super NHS Trust amid fears of a massive backbench revolt. The Prime Minister was outlining the case for foundation hospitals in a speech on public sector reform in London.

  • Long may it last

    May I once again thank all the morrismen and folk dancers who welcomed in the summer on May 1. It is our traditional custom and heritage. May I also thank The Argus for reporting and photographing the Chanctonbury Men. Keep up the tradition. -John Goddard

  • Lost cause

    The absurdity of Tony Blair saying that all problems should be resolved politically as he announced the disenfranchising of people and cancelled an election will not be lost upon anyone. -Kate Page, Brighton

  • April 4: Hampshire v Sussex

    The bookies will give you 20-1 on Sussex winning the National League second division. Those odds aren't likely to be shortened much after this dismal start. Both director of cricket Peter Moores and skipper Chris Adams have made optimistic noises about

  • Urban Housewife, by Lizzie Enfield

    Due to the cumulative effect of Easter holidays, high temperatures and sick bugs, I am very behind with my work. Was finally getting down to trying to finish various started and interrupted articles, when was once again interrupted, this time by call

  • Shared profit

    With typical chutzpah, local Tory spinmeister David Gold puts a positive gloss on his party's disappointing night last Thursday (Letters, May 3). The Conservatives were convinced they were headed for a clear victory. As Mr Gold's leader, Brian Oxley,

  • One after 99

    I congratulate my opponent on his re-election to Adur District Council as the representative for St Mary's ward, Shoreham. I also thank the 99 residents who voted for me, which was a magnificent response. A turnout of 45 per cent in the ward was the highest

  • Good overall

    Politics in Brighton and Hove look set for an interesting few years. While some may think that no overall control is a bad thing, it bodes well for democracy and the hoped-for negotiating between the various groups and individuals on Brighton and Hove

  • Future is now

    As the results of the local elections have now become clear, we have lost some very good councillors (The Argus, May 3). Jenny Barnard-Langston and her husband, Mark, have both lost their seats despite serving their local areas well. Frieda Warman Brown

  • Cricket: Skipper stays cool after big win

    Invitation League: Lindfield skipper Graham Page is refusing to get carried away after his side made the perfect start to their division one campaign. They picked up a maximum 30 points after a three-wicket win at last season's runners-up Pagham. The

  • A to Z of it

    Former councillor Mike Middleton regards the electorate as fools, which is why he lost his seat. He claims (The Argus, May 3) that his place on the ballot-form was a disadvantage. This not only insults those who follow the issues and personalities (and

  • Rugby: Wattam leads Sussex to victory

    Dave Wattam played the role of all-rounder to perfection and helped set up Sussex for the toughest assignment in County Championship rugby. The Haywards Heath flanker found himself on the wing for almost half an hour of Saturday's home opener with Kent

  • Fare rise had to happen

    The £1 flat fare on Brighton and Hove buses was a bold experiment that has worked well for more than two years. It has made fares simpler for passengers, attracted more of them on to the buses and has meant passengers waiting less time at stops. But inflation

  • Action, man

    Hove residents voted on issues such as the King Alfred overdevelopment, the Medina House skyscraper, hotels being changed to halfway hostels and the preservation of our seafront, resulting in the wards which border Hove seafront - Wish, Westbourne, Central

  • Speedway: Eagles sunk by Pirates

    Eastbourne Eagles suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Elite League title favourites Poole last night. They were beaten 60-30, their heaviest defeat for two years, as the home side went on the rampage. The Sussex outfit were sunk without trace for

  • Sussex Senior Cup Final: Match Report

    Crawley boss Francis Vines admits the league title is next on his list after Reds completed a cup double in dramatic style. The Dr Martens League premier division side beat Eastbourne Borough 6-5 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes and extra time

  • Brighton Festival: The Last Master, Old Market, Hove, May 2

    Newsreader John Suchet is an unashamed fan of Beethoven and his music - so much so, he has written a three-volume fictional biography of the man. In his talk at The Old Market, lavishly illustrated with live music examples from piano, violin and cello

  • Brighton Festival: A Prison Diary, Marlborough Theatre, May 2

    What will it take to shut Jeffrey Archer up? Not even the thick walls of HMP Belmarsh can silence the lying lord. First we had the book of his prison experience. Now those memoirs have been dramatised by the actor Mike Darnell. And, irritatingly, the

  • Simply Red, Brighton Centre, May 4

    Whatever you may think about Mick Hucknall, you can't dispute he is up there in the Premiership of UK vocalists alongside Mick Jagger and Sting. He effortlessly produces a sound which would turn even the most heavenly of angels green with envy. Rich,

  • Cricket: Adams blasts bowlers

    Chris Adams has admitted his side threw it away with the ball as they completed a blank holiday weekend. The skipper hit his first century of the season but the Sharks still lost by four wickets to Northants at Hove yesterday. While the runs started flowing

  • Cement site plan under fire

    Conservationists have urged a Government inspector to refuse plans to develop the derelict Upper Beeding cement works. Developer Callstone plans to spend £10 million transforming the disused Blue Circle Cement works. The company hopes to build a business

  • Cement works plan under fire

    Conservationists have urged a Government inspector to refuse plans to develop the derelict Upper Beeding cement works. Developer Callstone plans to spend £10 million transforming the disused Blue Circle Cement works. The company hopes to build a business

  • Drama in the scullery

    Take one fading Georgian manor house. Add fleeting film images, spooky whispers and costumed, shadowy figures and the scene is set for a chilling experience. This is not a ride at a theme park, however. The venue is Stanmer House in Stanmer Park, Brighton

  • Software: Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator 6

    Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator 6 beta is the latest edition of one of the best CD-recording packages on the market. It is a powerful software tool that allows you to create your own CDs, web photo albums, video CDs (to use just like DVDs) and video postcards

  • It's a funny old world

    British people have searched the internet for everything from black pudding throwing contests to whether the Queen has any Blue Peter badges. The findings come in a new report from Microsoft's online division. In recent months, some visitors to the MSN

  • Building for the builders

    A Brighton-based web design company has been chosen to build a web site promoting the use of IT best practice in the construction industry. NVisage has designed the Information Technology Construction Best Practice (ITCBP) site, which will be a portal

  • Anger at bus fare hike

    The company which runs most of Brighton and Hove's buses has infuriated passengers by adding 20p to its £1 flat fare. Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company is raising the price of its basic city-wide ticket from Sunday May 25. The flat fare, introduced

  • Boy falls from car

    A teenage boy was fighting for his life last night after falling from the roof of a moving car. The 16-year-old from Birdham, near Chichester, suffered serious head injuries in the incident on Saturday night. Police said it appeared the teenager had fallen

  • Job cuts warning

    Tens of thousands of UK manufacturing jobs will be lost by the end of June because of a renewed downturn in the sector, a new report predicts. Up to 86,000 posts could be axed in the first six months of the year, with firms in every region except Scotland

  • Alert over tribunals

    Government plans to improve employment tribunal procedures could lead to a "barrage" of new claims, the TUC warned today. The TUC said changes being introduced over the next 18 months, including a three-step procedure for discipline or grievance issues

  • Bank holiday crowds head for shops

    Sales and the threat of poor weather led to more people heading to the shops over the Bank Holiday weekend, a survey says. FootFall, which measures the number of people in shopping centres, said there were just under 1 per cent more shoppers out on Saturday

  • Firms face revolt over bosses' pay

    Cigarette giant Gallaher and insurer Royal & Sun Alliance have become the latest firms facing shareholder revolts over executives' pay. Gallaher, which owns the Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut brands, has come under fire for offering two years' salary

  • Sounds of summer

    Well, summer is definitely around the corner. I awoke the other morning to the screeching sounds of swifts flying above our roof garden. Every year, almost to the day, they arrive in numbers to grace our skies. Hungry from their migration, they fly like

  • Naivety over Saddam weapons

    If Mrs E Hill (Letters, April 30) thinks weapons of mass destruction will not be found in Iraq, she is a little naive. They will be found because Holy President Bush must not be proved wrong. He will arrange for such weapons to be brought from the US

  • Blair faces hospital revolt

    Tony Blair was today trying to save plans to transform a Sussex hospital into a super NHS Trust amid fears of a massive backbench revolt. The Prime Minister was outlining the case for foundation hospitals in a speech on public sector reform in London.

  • May 2: Sussex v Kent (Close)

    James Kirtley produced his best bowling performance for two years in front of England selector Geoff Miller to lead Sussex to an eventful first win of the season over Kent. Kirtley finished with 6-26, his best figures for two years, to condemn Kent to

  • Lost cause

    The absurdity of Tony Blair saying that all problems should be resolved politically as he announced the disenfranchising of people and cancelled an election will not be lost upon anyone. -Kate Page, Brighton

  • May 5: Sussex v Northants

    Not even Chris Adams in full flow could save Sussex's gloomy sporting Bank Holiday from a dismal finale. Adams fired his first National League century since September 2001 but his side still suffered a six-wicket home defeat to Northants. Two late James

  • Row over train noise

    The blaring horns of South Central's new trains are causing misery to residents living next to West Worthing railway station. People in St Dunstans Road have complained to the rail operator that the new klaxons make them "jump out of their skin". Janette

  • Right to roam through showpiece garden

    A Sussex visitor attraction could change beyond recognition if the public gain free access to it under new right-to-roam legislation. The owners of Leonardslee, in Lower Beeding, near Horsham, fear they will be forced to spend thousands of pounds in legal

  • Balanced act

    The Argus did the residents of Brighton and Hove a great service during the local elections by not allowing the story that the BNP were standing in one ward to be played-up out of proportion. Many newspapers and media outlets across the country made the

  • One after 99

    I congratulate my opponent on his re-election to Adur District Council as the representative for St Mary's ward, Shoreham. I also thank the 99 residents who voted for me, which was a magnificent response. A turnout of 45 per cent in the ward was the highest

  • Future is now

    As the results of the local elections have now become clear, we have lost some very good councillors (The Argus, May 3). Jenny Barnard-Langston and her husband, Mark, have both lost their seats despite serving their local areas well. Frieda Warman Brown

  • Cricket: Skipper stays cool after big win

    Invitation League: Lindfield skipper Graham Page is refusing to get carried away after his side made the perfect start to their division one campaign. They picked up a maximum 30 points after a three-wicket win at last season's runners-up Pagham. The

  • Rugby: Wattam leads Sussex to victory

    Dave Wattam played the role of all-rounder to perfection and helped set up Sussex for the toughest assignment in County Championship rugby. The Haywards Heath flanker found himself on the wing for almost half an hour of Saturday's home opener with Kent

  • Action, man

    Hove residents voted on issues such as the King Alfred overdevelopment, the Medina House skyscraper, hotels being changed to halfway hostels and the preservation of our seafront, resulting in the wards which border Hove seafront - Wish, Westbourne, Central

  • Just deserts for a bumptious regime

    I was disappointed but not surprised to hear the reaction of Ken Bodfish to the outcome of the council elections. He blamed the Iraq war for Labour's lost seats and then said he intended to carry on with his programme as before, hoping that incoming councillors

  • Sussex Cup: Reds win shoot-out

    Ten-man Crawley capped the most successful season in the club's 107-year history by beating Eastbourne Borough 6-5 on penalties to win the Sussex Senior Cup. Having won the Dr Martens League Cup last week, Reds made it a double thanks to three penalty

  • Simply Red, Brighton Centre, May 4

    Whatever you may think about Mick Hucknall, you can't dispute he is up there in the Premiership of UK vocalists alongside Mick Jagger and Sting. He effortlessly produces a sound which would turn even the most heavenly of angels green with envy. Rich,

  • Cricket: Adams blasts bowlers

    Chris Adams has admitted his side threw it away with the ball as they completed a blank holiday weekend. The skipper hit his first century of the season but the Sharks still lost by four wickets to Northants at Hove yesterday. While the runs started flowing

  • Pru, 60, third in Round-Britain race

    Great-grandmother Pru Harding is celebrating a respectable third place in a testing yacht race around the British Isles. Pru, 60, from Balcombe, near Haywards Heath, was the oldest woman to take part in the inaugural Round Britain Challenge, which finished

  • Cement site plan under fire

    Conservationists have urged a Government inspector to refuse plans to develop the derelict Upper Beeding cement works. Developer Callstone plans to spend £10 million transforming the disused Blue Circle Cement works. The company hopes to build a business

  • Drama in the scullery

    Take one fading Georgian manor house. Add fleeting film images, spooky whispers and costumed, shadowy figures and the scene is set for a chilling experience. This is not a ride at a theme park, however. The venue is Stanmer House in Stanmer Park, Brighton

  • Conman swapped antiques for fakes

    A conman spent more than two years stealing an elderly woman's treasured family heirlooms one by one - and replacing them with worthless copies. The thief, in his 60s, befriended her after mending some ornaments and offered to clean and fix other mementoes

  • Hardware: Creative Inspire 5.1 Digital 5500 speakers

    The Inspire 5.1 Digital 5500 system looks like a typical Creative speaker package with the added bonus of an standalone Dolby Digital 5.1 decoder. Up to three devices, such as a DVD player, games console or PC, can be attached to the decoder via optical

  • Software: Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator 6

    Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator 6 beta is the latest edition of one of the best CD-recording packages on the market. It is a powerful software tool that allows you to create your own CDs, web photo albums, video CDs (to use just like DVDs) and video postcards

  • It's a funny old world

    British people have searched the internet for everything from black pudding throwing contests to whether the Queen has any Blue Peter badges. The findings come in a new report from Microsoft's online division. In recent months, some visitors to the MSN

  • Conman swapped antiques for fakes

    A conman spent more than two years stealing an elderly woman's treasured family heirlooms one by one - and replacing them with worthless copies. The thief, in his 60s, befriended her after mending some ornaments and offered to clean and fix other mementoes

  • Garden's right-to-roam shock

    A Sussex visitor attraction could change beyond recognition if the public gain free access to it under new right-to-roam legislation. The owners of Leonardslee, in Lower Beeding, near Horsham, fear they will be forced to spend thousands of pounds in legal

  • Anger at bus fare hike

    The company which runs most of Brighton and Hove's buses has infuriated passengers by adding 20p to its £1 flat fare. Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company is raising the price of its basic city-wide ticket from Sunday May 25. The flat fare, introduced

  • Can schoolchildren stand the pressure?

    Thousands of Sussex children are busy cramming for the summer exams. But are children suffering under their increasingly heavy workload? Classroom tests, SATS, Key Stage 2, 3 and 4, end of year exams, mid-year exams, mock exams, GCSEs and A-levels. The

  • Boy falls from car

    A teenage boy was fighting for his life last night after falling from the roof of a moving car. The 16-year-old from Birdham, near Chichester, suffered serious head injuries in the incident on Saturday night. Police said it appeared the teenager had fallen

  • Woman tells of rape

    A man was arrested early today on suspicion of raping a woman at his home in Brighton. A woman in her 20s reported she had been attacked at the suspect's flat last night. She was taken to a Sussex Police victim suite for interview and medical examination

  • Arson attack on pizza parlour

    Arsonists caused more than £3,000 of damage to a pizza restaurant by pouring petrol through the letterbox and setting it alight. The entrance to Papa John's, in the Martlets shopping centre, Burgess Hill, was wrecked, the door and glass melted and warped

  • Job cuts warning

    Tens of thousands of UK manufacturing jobs will be lost by the end of June because of a renewed downturn in the sector, a new report predicts. Up to 86,000 posts could be axed in the first six months of the year, with firms in every region except Scotland

  • Firms face revolt over bosses' pay

    Cigarette giant Gallaher and insurer Royal & Sun Alliance have become the latest firms facing shareholder revolts over executives' pay. Gallaher, which owns the Benson & Hedges and Silk Cut brands, has come under fire for offering two years' salary

  • Sounds of summer

    Well, summer is definitely around the corner. I awoke the other morning to the screeching sounds of swifts flying above our roof garden. Every year, almost to the day, they arrive in numbers to grace our skies. Hungry from their migration, they fly like

  • Albion misery

    I see Mike Ward calls himself an Albion nut (The Argus, April 30) but he is not. I live with an Albion nut. My Albion nut puts the Albion first, all the time, even on his child's birthday. He has never bought bikes for his son or daughter. My Albion nut

  • May 2: Sussex v Kent (Close)

    James Kirtley produced his best bowling performance for two years in front of England selector Geoff Miller to lead Sussex to an eventful first win of the season over Kent. Kirtley finished with 6-26, his best figures for two years, to condemn Kent to

  • May 5: Sussex v Northants

    Not even Chris Adams in full flow could save Sussex's gloomy sporting Bank Holiday from a dismal finale. Adams fired his first National League century since September 2001 but his side still suffered a six-wicket home defeat to Northants. Two late James

  • 1,000 miles in a motorised skip

    The Butcher family's motor may be lampooned as a load of rubbish but they insist she handles like a dream. They are forgoing the luxury of a more standard saloon on one epic journey in favour of an industrial little number more commonly associated with

  • Short circuit

    In any enlightened democracy there must, of course, be room for postal votes for sick or disabled people. But mass postal voting is designed for the idle and it destroys the face-to-face link between electors and elected. All citizens should be proud

  • Right to roam through showpiece garden

    A Sussex visitor attraction could change beyond recognition if the public gain free access to it under new right-to-roam legislation. The owners of Leonardslee, in Lower Beeding, near Horsham, fear they will be forced to spend thousands of pounds in legal

  • Balanced act

    The Argus did the residents of Brighton and Hove a great service during the local elections by not allowing the story that the BNP were standing in one ward to be played-up out of proportion. Many newspapers and media outlets across the country made the

  • Simply Red singer teases Albion fans

    Simply Red star Mick Hucknall teased a Brighton crowd mercilessly on the day his team won the championship - and the home side went down. Hucknall, a Manchester United fan, was so excited by Sunday's events on the pitch he couldn't resist phoning manager

  • Cricket: Pugh wins it for Ringmer

    East Sussex League: Ringmer booked their place in the semi-finals of the Golden Galleon Trophy with a home win over Crowborough. Simon Pugh led them to victory with a stunning unbeaten 91 off just 56 balls to ease Ringmer to 187-5. Chris Roxborough gave

  • Way to go

    Neil Butcher and son Alex say their modified skip drives like a dream. Many motorists may think it is they who are dreaming when they see the bizarre contraption driving up the motorway towards John o'Groats. The Butchers are hoping to tip the balance

  • A good move

    Public loos have been one of the lesser-known casualties of Brighton and Hove's booming property market. For several years it has been council policy to sell off some of the less well-used public toilet buildings for conversion into more coffee shops

  • Just deserts for a bumptious regime

    I was disappointed but not surprised to hear the reaction of Ken Bodfish to the outcome of the council elections. He blamed the Iraq war for Labour's lost seats and then said he intended to carry on with his programme as before, hoping that incoming councillors

  • Sussex Cup: Reds win shoot-out

    Ten-man Crawley capped the most successful season in the club's 107-year history by beating Eastbourne Borough 6-5 on penalties to win the Sussex Senior Cup. Having won the Dr Martens League Cup last week, Reds made it a double thanks to three penalty

  • Coppell to stay if offer's right

    Steve Coppell is prepared to carry on at Albion, provided the terms are right. His current 12-month contract runs out in October and chairman Dick Knight has indicated a longer term deal will be put on the table. Coppell, who just failed to save Albion

  • Drivers warned of major road work

    Drivers face weeks of delays as Highways Agency engineers work on two major Sussex roads. The A27 and A21 in East Sussex will both be affected. Work on a new acceleration lane leading on to the westbound carriageway of the A27 by the Newmarket pub near

  • Pru, 60, third in Round-Britain race

    Great-grandmother Pru Harding is celebrating a respectable third place in a testing yacht race around the British Isles. Pru, 60, from Balcombe, near Haywards Heath, was the oldest woman to take part in the inaugural Round Britain Challenge, which finished

  • Factory sale could bring 100 jobs

    Up to 100 jobs could be created following the acquisition of a derelict factory by Brighton and Hove City Council. As freeholder, the council has bought the long leasehold interest in Westergate House on Fairway industrial estate in Moulsecoomb, Brighton

  • Anger at bus fare hike

    The company which runs most of Brighton and Hove's buses has infuriated passengers by adding 20p to its £1 flat fare. Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company is raising the price of its basic city-wide ticket from Sunday May 25. The flat fare, introduced

  • Hotel guests flee Hilton blaze

    Hundreds of guests were evacuated from a seafront hotel after a suspected arson attack in a locker room. Staff and visitors poured outside Brighton's Hilton Metropole Hotel shortly after 8pm on Sunday when flames were reported. They waited on the pavement

  • Conman swapped antiques for fakes

    A conman spent more than two years stealing an elderly woman's treasured family heirlooms one by one - and replacing them with worthless copies. The thief, in his 60s, befriended her after mending some ornaments and offered to clean and fix other mementoes

  • Hardware: Creative Inspire 5.1 Digital 5500 speakers

    The Inspire 5.1 Digital 5500 system looks like a typical Creative speaker package with the added bonus of an standalone Dolby Digital 5.1 decoder. Up to three devices, such as a DVD player, games console or PC, can be attached to the decoder via optical

  • Anger at parking 'rat run'

    Drivers are turning a neighbourhood into a rat-run as they vie for parking spaces. People living in the Preston area of Brighton say the lack of parking regulations is encouraging motorists to drive erratically. They are demanding action to prevent frustrated

  • Babel put to the test

    Babel Media's recent £30,000 investment in its mobile games division and the opening of a testing facility in New Delhi, India, have reaped further dividends. Wireless entertainment publisher iFone has commissioned the company to provide testing on its

  • Net access is on the up

    Five times as many households now have access to the internet compared with four years ago. The National Statistics Omnibus Survey confirmed 45 per cent of all households, 11.4 million homes, can now go online. It said 62 per cent of adults had accessed

  • Parents call for bus 'guardians'

    Volunteers are in line to be recruited to supervise children on school buses to oversee safety and stamp out rowdy behaviour. Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, welcomed calls for the scheme, proposed by members

  • Is technology getting tired?

    Despite the best efforts of software and hardware vendors, technology has almost lost its wow factor and is becoming mundane. During the past few months I have noticed the most unlikely people now have computers, while the most extravagantly-hyped technological

  • Can schoolchildren stand the pressure?

    Thousands of Sussex children are busy cramming for the summer exams. But are children suffering under their increasingly heavy workload? Classroom tests, SATS, Key Stage 2, 3 and 4, end of year exams, mid-year exams, mock exams, GCSEs and A-levels. The

  • Woman tells of rape

    A man was arrested early today on suspicion of raping a woman at his home in Brighton. A woman in her 20s reported she had been attacked at the suspect's flat last night. She was taken to a Sussex Police victim suite for interview and medical examination

  • The price of spending a penny

    Spending a penny will cost 20 times that for people caught short while shopping. Brighton's busiest public toilets at the bottom of West Street are getting a £100,000 refurbishment. The deluxe service will come at a price - each trip to the loo will cost

  • Arson attack on pizza parlour

    Arsonists caused more than £3,000 of damage to a pizza restaurant by pouring petrol through the letterbox and setting it alight. The entrance to Papa John's, in the Martlets shopping centre, Burgess Hill, was wrecked, the door and glass melted and warped

  • Confidence hits four-year low

    Hopes of an upturn in the economy have been dealt a blow after research showed business confidence is at its lowest level for four years. According to accountants BDO Stoy Hayward's latest quarterly business trends report, both optimism and output levels

  • Men in vests

    Graham J Mayer seems to be oblivious to the unwritten law that half-naked men are not a welcome sight in food stores (Letters May 1). Why keep pursuing the matter with Asda when as far back as June 1999 he was shown the door? Was it really too much trouble

  • Coppell to stay if offer's right

    Steve Coppell is prepared to carry on at Albion, provided the terms are right. His current 12-month contract runs out in October and chairman Dick Knight has indicated a longer term deal will be put on the table. Coppell, who just failed to save Albion

  • Hotel guests flee Hilton blaze

    Hundreds of guests were evacuated from a seafront hotel after a suspected arson attack in a locker room. Staff and visitors poured outside Brighton's Hilton Metropole Hotel shortly after 8pm on Sunday when flames were reported. They waited on the pavement

  • Albion misery

    I see Mike Ward calls himself an Albion nut (The Argus, April 30) but he is not. I live with an Albion nut. My Albion nut puts the Albion first, all the time, even on his child's birthday. He has never bought bikes for his son or daughter. My Albion nut

  • Long may it last

    May I once again thank all the morrismen and folk dancers who welcomed in the summer on May 1. It is our traditional custom and heritage. May I also thank The Argus for reporting and photographing the Chanctonbury Men. Keep up the tradition. -John Goddard

  • April 4: Hampshire v Sussex

    The bookies will give you 20-1 on Sussex winning the National League second division. Those odds aren't likely to be shortened much after this dismal start. Both director of cricket Peter Moores and skipper Chris Adams have made optimistic noises about

  • Urban Housewife, by Lizzie Enfield

    Due to the cumulative effect of Easter holidays, high temperatures and sick bugs, I am very behind with my work. Was finally getting down to trying to finish various started and interrupted articles, when was once again interrupted, this time by call

  • Cement site plan under fire

    Conservationists have urged a Government inspector to refuse plans to develop the derelict Upper Beeding cement works. Developer Callstone plans to spend £10 million transforming the disused Blue Circle Cement works. The company hopes to build a business

  • Arson attack on pizza parlour

    Arsonists caused more than £3,000 of damage to a pizza restaurant in Burgess Hill by pouring petrol through the letterbox and setting it alight. The entrance to Papa John's, in the Martlets shopping centre, was wrecked, the door and glass melted and warped

  • Blair faces hospital revolt

    Tony Blair was today trying to save plans to transform a Mid Sussex hospital into a super NHS Trust amid fears of a massive backbench revolt. The Prime Minister was outlining the case for foundation hospitals in a speech on public sector reform in London

  • 1,000 miles in a motorised skip

    The Butcher family's motor may be lampooned as a load of rubbish but they insist she handles like a dream. They are forgoing the luxury of a more standard saloon on one epic journey in favour of an industrial little number more commonly associated with

  • New station hits airwaves

    A new radio station for the Worthing area went on air at a glitzy launch party. Hundreds of guests including singer Leo Sayer and Liberal Democrat president Lord Dholakia helped to launch 107.7 Splash FM. Veteran DJ David Hamilton flicked the switch to

  • Street assault on boy, 14

    A teenage boy was punched in the face in an unprovoked attack in Hailsham, police said today. The 14-year-old was walking along London Road when he was set upon by another youth. The boy was taken to the Eastbourne District General Hospital after being

  • Olympic star opens pool

    Olympic rowing hero Sir Steve Redgrave officially opened a £370,000 hydrotherapy and swimming pool for disabled people. People paid £2-a-time for signed Polaroid photographs of the gold medallist, 41, at 120-pupil Hazel Court Primary School in Shinewater

  • Anger at schools cash claim

    East Sussex County Council bosses today attacked Government claims that they are deliberately withholding cash for schools. Education Secretary Charles Clarke said Tory-controlled East Sussex was holding back £1.4 million. But council education bosses

  • Short circuit

    In any enlightened democracy there must, of course, be room for postal votes for sick or disabled people. But mass postal voting is designed for the idle and it destroys the face-to-face link between electors and elected. All citizens should be proud

  • Simply Red singer teases Albion fans

    Simply Red star Mick Hucknall teased a Brighton crowd mercilessly on the day his team won the championship - and the home side went down. Hucknall, a Manchester United fan, was so excited by Sunday's events on the pitch he couldn't resist phoning manager

  • Shared profit

    With typical chutzpah, local Tory spinmeister David Gold puts a positive gloss on his party's disappointing night last Thursday (Letters, May 3). The Conservatives were convinced they were headed for a clear victory. As Mr Gold's leader, Brian Oxley,

  • Good overall

    Politics in Brighton and Hove look set for an interesting few years. While some may think that no overall control is a bad thing, it bodes well for democracy and the hoped-for negotiating between the various groups and individuals on Brighton and Hove

  • Cricket: Pugh wins it for Ringmer

    East Sussex League: Ringmer booked their place in the semi-finals of the Golden Galleon Trophy with a home win over Crowborough. Simon Pugh led them to victory with a stunning unbeaten 91 off just 56 balls to ease Ringmer to 187-5. Chris Roxborough gave

  • Way to go

    Neil Butcher and son Alex say their modified skip drives like a dream. Many motorists may think it is they who are dreaming when they see the bizarre contraption driving up the motorway towards John o'Groats. The Butchers are hoping to tip the balance

  • A good move

    Public loos have been one of the lesser-known casualties of Brighton and Hove's booming property market. For several years it has been council policy to sell off some of the less well-used public toilet buildings for conversion into more coffee shops

  • A to Z of it

    Former councillor Mike Middleton regards the electorate as fools, which is why he lost his seat. He claims (The Argus, May 3) that his place on the ballot-form was a disadvantage. This not only insults those who follow the issues and personalities (and

  • Fare rise had to happen

    The £1 flat fare on Brighton and Hove buses was a bold experiment that has worked well for more than two years. It has made fares simpler for passengers, attracted more of them on to the buses and has meant passengers waiting less time at stops. But inflation

  • Speedway: Eagles sunk by Pirates

    Eastbourne Eagles suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Elite League title favourites Poole last night. They were beaten 60-30, their heaviest defeat for two years, as the home side went on the rampage. The Sussex outfit were sunk without trace for

  • Sussex Senior Cup Final: Match Report

    Crawley boss Francis Vines admits the league title is next on his list after Reds completed a cup double in dramatic style. The Dr Martens League premier division side beat Eastbourne Borough 6-5 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes and extra time

  • Brighton Festival: The Last Master, Old Market, Hove, May 2

    Newsreader John Suchet is an unashamed fan of Beethoven and his music - so much so, he has written a three-volume fictional biography of the man. In his talk at The Old Market, lavishly illustrated with live music examples from piano, violin and cello

  • Brighton Festival: A Prison Diary, Marlborough Theatre, May 2

    What will it take to shut Jeffrey Archer up? Not even the thick walls of HMP Belmarsh can silence the lying lord. First we had the book of his prison experience. Now those memoirs have been dramatised by the actor Mike Darnell. And, irritatingly, the

  • Coppell to stay if offer's right

    Steve Coppell is prepared to carry on at Albion, provided the terms are right. His current 12-month contract runs out in October and chairman Dick Knight has indicated a longer term deal will be put on the table. Coppell, who just failed to save Albion

  • Drivers warned of major road work

    Drivers face weeks of delays as Highways Agency engineers work on two major Sussex roads. The A27 and A21 in East Sussex will both be affected. Work on a new acceleration lane leading on to the westbound carriageway of the A27 by the Newmarket pub near

  • Factory sale could bring 100 jobs

    Up to 100 jobs could be created following the acquisition of a derelict factory by Brighton and Hove City Council. As freeholder, the council has bought the long leasehold interest in Westergate House on Fairway industrial estate in Moulsecoomb, Brighton

  • Anger at bus fare hike

    The company which runs most of Brighton and Hove's buses has infuriated passengers by adding 20p to its £1 flat fare. Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company is raising the price of its basic city-wide ticket from Sunday May 25. The flat fare, introduced

  • Cement works plan under fire

    Conservationists have urged a Government inspector to refuse plans to develop the derelict Upper Beeding cement works. Developer Callstone plans to spend £10 million transforming the disused Blue Circle Cement works. The company hopes to build a business

  • Hotel guests flee Hilton blaze

    Hundreds of guests were evacuated from a seafront hotel after a suspected arson attack in a locker room. Staff and visitors poured outside Brighton's Hilton Metropole Hotel shortly after 8pm on Sunday when flames were reported. They waited on the pavement

  • Anger at parking 'rat run'

    Drivers are turning a neighbourhood into a rat-run as they vie for parking spaces. People living in the Preston area of Brighton say the lack of parking regulations is encouraging motorists to drive erratically. They are demanding action to prevent frustrated

  • Babel put to the test

    Babel Media's recent £30,000 investment in its mobile games division and the opening of a testing facility in New Delhi, India, have reaped further dividends. Wireless entertainment publisher iFone has commissioned the company to provide testing on its

  • Building for the builders

    A Brighton-based web design company has been chosen to build a web site promoting the use of IT best practice in the construction industry. NVisage has designed the Information Technology Construction Best Practice (ITCBP) site, which will be a portal

  • Net access is on the up

    Five times as many households now have access to the internet compared with four years ago. The National Statistics Omnibus Survey confirmed 45 per cent of all households, 11.4 million homes, can now go online. It said 62 per cent of adults had accessed

  • Cement site plan under fire

    Conservationists have urged a Government inspector to refuse plans to develop the derelict Upper Beeding cement works. Developer Callstone plans to spend £10 million transforming the disused Blue Circle Cement works. The company hopes to build a business

  • Parents call for bus 'guardians'

    Volunteers are in line to be recruited to supervise children on school buses to oversee safety and stamp out rowdy behaviour. Roger French, managing director of Brighton and Hove Bus and Coach Company, welcomed calls for the scheme, proposed by members

  • Is technology getting tired?

    Despite the best efforts of software and hardware vendors, technology has almost lost its wow factor and is becoming mundane. During the past few months I have noticed the most unlikely people now have computers, while the most extravagantly-hyped technological

  • The price of spending a penny

    Spending a penny will cost 20 times that for people caught short while shopping. Brighton's busiest public toilets at the bottom of West Street are getting a £100,000 refurbishment. The deluxe service will come at a price - each trip to the loo will cost