Plans to convert Crawley’s Overline House into flats and build two extra storeys on top of the existing building have been submitted.

Developers had originally planned to demolish the building, which has the station on the ground floor, and build three blocks of 308 flats alongside a multi-storey car park.

However the plans have had to be altered because Network Rail required unrestricted access to the railway sidings at the south-eastern corner of the site.

The surface car park will be retained, with plans submitted in August for three new blocks of flats totalling 223 units to the west of Overline House with undercroft parking and landscaping.

Now an application has been submitted for Overline House, which is set to be retained and converted into 81 flats with two extra floors, with a remodelled station concourse on the ground floor.

The developer said: “The existing building will be stripped back to the original structural frame to be re-clad in a new skin, transforming the external appearance. This will provide Overline House and Crawley Station with a new modern identity that will sit comfortably beside the new build elements.”

The application states: “During ongoing dialogue with Network Rail it became apparent that maintaining the existing railway station within Overline House would bring benefits to the scheme. The removal of the requirement to form a temporary station during construction limits the impact on passengers, retaining familiarity for commuters.”

The transformed railway station will occupy the ground floor alongside a new retail unit, business units and refurbished cafe.

The proposals would also create a civic space in front of the station, which the developer says will improve the connectivity between the railway and bus stations.

Public realm improvements for the area are being developed and implemented by Crawley Borough Council.

A new kiss and ride drop-off, taxi rank and increased disabled parking provision will also be provided.

Developers already have outline permission to redevelop the area.

To comment on the application visit www.crawley.gov.uk/planning using code CR/2019/0660/FUL.

Michael Roe, 32, and Tiffany Tate, 21, from Crowborough, appeared at Lewes Crown Court today for a pre-trial hearing.

Roe, charged with the murder of a child under one years old between September 8-11, 2018; wounding or inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent; and causing or allowing the death of a child, appeared via prison video link, and pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.

Tate, who was originally charged with causing or allowing the death, has been additionally charged with the baby's murder, the court heard. She appeared in the dock and pleaded not guilty to all charges against her.

A trial date has been set for March 2, 2020, and both will appear for a pre-trial hearing in January, the court heard.

Tate was granted further bail with conditions.

Judge Christine Laing QC told the court that she had considered that Tate was not originally charged with murder.

She added that with the input of social services, this would protect her rather than her going into prison. She said that Tate had also faced a backlash on social media.

Judge Christine Laing QC said Tate must remain at the address she is living at, directed by social services, and she must not move from that address without permission of the through care service at East Sussex County Council.

She must observe a curfew and must be indoors every night. A police officer also has the right to attend to ensure she is there, she said.

Tate must also report to her nearest police station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, between 10am and 2pm, the court heard, and she must continue to have support of the through care service and must not try to stop this.

Additionally, she must also deactivate her social media accounts for her own safety and must not contact any witnesses.

Paramedics were called to Roe's house in Alderbrook Close, Crowborough, in the early hours of September 10, 2018, where baby Holly was reported to be having breathing difficulties. She was taken to Pembury Hospital, where she was tragically pronounced dead.

A post mortem showed that the cause of death was a traumatic head injury.

Similar disappointment re-emerged when the fourth round draw pitted us against League Two rivals Colchester United. It won’t bring in a huge crowd and will be played close to the league game on October 12.

It was plain to see why the Potteries club are struggling to avoid relegation to League One. They were error-prone and shambolic and Crawley quickly assumed dominance. Reds enjoyed greater possession, played more intelligently and created more chances but, once again, their finishing was below par.

Stoke took a first half lead against the run of play. Following a corner the Wales international Sam Vokes stabbed the ball past Michael Luyambula.

The Reds redoubled their efforts and were rewarded before half-time when Nathan Ferguson powered his shot wide of Adam Federici and into the roof of the net.

In the second half Crawley were even more dominant but their failure to score rang alarm bells for many of their long suffering supporters. It was very much a case of so near, yet so far.

A red card for Stoke’s Nathan Collins with half an hour to play made no difference as Reds failed to take advantage of their additional man.

READ MORE Crawley Town's Carabao Cup draw reaction: 'Our boys are well up for it but I would have loved Manchester United away' | 'Bigger tie than Chelsea Reserves v Man Utd Reserves to be fair' - Crawley Town fans react to Carabao Cup draw | Watch how Crawley Town fans, Gabriele Cioffi and Kelly Derham reacted to the Carabao Cup live draw

Nobody had played poorly or been outclassed by their opponent yet the match remained delicately balanced at the final whistle.

For me the best part of the proceedings was my appreciation of what a great piece of business the signing of Nathan Ferguson had been as he was involved in most of the attempts on the visitors’ goal.

There is no extra time in this competition and so the result had to come from a penalty shootout. The packed ground was on tenterhooks as Bez Lubala swept home the opening penalty. Moments later Sam Vokes cracked his spot kick against the crossbar and sheer elation greeted it.

As far as the south terrace was concerned the tie was as good as won and their confidence was rewarded as David Sesay, Tom Dallison, Ashley Nathaniel-George and Ollie Palmer ensured Crawley had a perfect return of five out of five. Now absolute bedlam ensued.

Unfortunately Reds have their share of moronic followers as several smoke flares had evidenced. Following a warning from the FA the club is now likely to be fined so I trust the culprits are ready to cough up their share.

A pitch invasion was perhaps inevitable but it was disappointing to see a photograph showing a couple of adults of my acquaintance, who should know better, in the melee.

Still those two FA Cup runs to the fifth round were a few years ago and we have had very little to celebrate since then so the unrestrained celebration was understandable.

READ MORE Crawley Town head coach Cioffi reacts to Colchester United draw | It's Colchester United - Crawley find out Carabao Cup fourth round opponents | 'I can't remember a better atmosphere in all my time at the club' - Crawley Town chief praises fans, but has flare warning

Plans to turn a pub between Horsham and Crawley into a drive-through takeaway and restaurant have been submitted.

The Cherry Tree Inn is a grade II listed public house off the A264 near Faygate and is accessed via a slip road from the dual carriageway.

Hall & Woodhouse has submitted an application to Horsham District Council for a change of use from a pub into a restaurant and hot food takeaway with a drive-through.

It is also seeking planning permission for alterations to the listed building, a new rear extension, landscaping and car parking.

According to the application’s documents the current use of the building is not considered a viable long-term solution owing to its isolated location, extensive competition, building size and limited capacity to suit changing demands being placed on pubs in general.

It suggests the combined A3 restaurant and A5 takeaway format ‘can benefit from easy access to a busy road frontage and by offering the convenience rather than destination break can respond to a significantly higher turnover of individual short stop transactions’.

The existing building would be renovated to provide a seated restaurant area for the new takeaway facility.

The bar and toilet corridor within the main section of the building and the modern rear extensions would be removed.

The new rear extension have been designed with pitched roofs and a long-barn arrangement.

A new glazed link would provide a new access point into the building, with the existing main entrance retained.

The current highways access would be altered to provide suitable parking and drive-through access.

To comment on the application visit www.horsham.gov.uk/planning using code DC/19/1912.

Here, we take a look at the odds the bookies are offering on Gabriele Cioffi's side to win the competition alongside the other clubs that remain - including Manchester United and Liverpool. Click and scroll through the pages to find out:

It definitely feels like autumn, the nights are getting darker, the trees are turning orange and programmes like Strictly Come Dancing signify the countdown to Christmas...sorry, it is only two months away. So it is the perfect time to get your home all cosy.

As it is an interiors special the magazine is brimming with ideas for you to incorporate into your home.

In the West Sussex edition you can find:

Graphic designer Katy Clemmans talks about seeing her designs on wallpaper and the challenges that can pose.

While Heather Joy talks to the people behind D Durrant Removals about putting your seasonal items in storage through the winter months, great if you don’t have a lot of space at home to house the garden furniture.

I spoke to the new head gardening team at Parham House about their plans for the future and caught up with the award-winning Arundel Bespoke about kitchens.

We also have a lot of great food features for you this month. TV chef Ainsley Harriott shares recipes from his new Caribbean cook book. We also have two gin-related pieces featuring Jarrold’s in Chichester and Brighton Gin.

I visited Goodwood’s Farmer, Butcher, Chef to talk to Isabella (above). She is only 22 and was the first woman to win Sussex young chef of the year at this year’s Sussex Food and Drink Awards. She really is a remarkable woman and one to watch in the future.

While in the East Sussex edition there is:

Hannah Risbridger explains the inspiration behind her interiors subscription box - From the Post House and reveals what you can get it in the first one launched in October.

Brewers shares its new and exciting collaboration with Morris & Co and I head to Uckfield to find out more about children’s interiors brand Nubie.

Gabrielle Fagan rounds up this season’s trends for your home which includes clashing colours and dark florals.
Away from interiors there is an interview with the co-founder of FittaMumma a pregnancy work out brand about why she started the company.

And I was lucky enough to chat to the extremely talented singer Frank Turner about his latest album No Man’s Land. Each song is inspired by a woman from history and it was fascinating to find out how he picked who he would feature. One in particular was his mum. Frank is playing in Bexhill next month, you can read the interview here

We hope you enjoy the issue and be sure to check out our Facebook page - etc.mag.7

You can view both magazines online.

For West Sussex click here

And for East Sussex click here

Brighton gave youth a chance to shine during their 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat against Aston Villa on Wednesday night.

Were you at the Amex or can you spot someone you know?

Councillors have asked West Sussex County Council to rethink plans for people to have to show two forms of ID before they can dump their rubbish.

The idea is being considered in an attempt to reduce costs and congestion, particularly at amenity tips close to the boundary, such as East Grinstead, Shoreham, Crawley, Burgess Hill and Billingshurst.

If approved, the scheme would start on December 1 and anyone visiting the county’s 11 tips would have to show photo ID such as a driving licence, plus a recent utility bill or current council tax bill.

While some members of the environment, communities and fire select committee had no problem with the need for ID to be shown, most were less than impressed with the need to also bring a bill.

Chairman Andrew Barrett-Miles said he tended to throw away his council tax bill and felt it was ‘unnecessary’ to make people present them.

He added: “The majority of us have the new plastic driving licences with our pictures on – and they have our addresses on – and I would think that is perfectly adequate.”

Dr James Walsh (Lib Dem, Littlehampton East) felt that, rather than reducing congestion, the ID checks would lead to hold-ups.

He was also not convinced by officers’ claims that the scheme would save the council £250k per year in disposal costs.

He added: “I think we are taking a hammer to crack an egg.”

Officers reported that some 10 per cent of people who used West Sussex tips lived in other counties – and said the saving predicted was actually ‘on the conservative side’.

The meeting was told that there had been an increase in the amount of soil and hardcore dumped at the Shoreham and East Grinstead sites since East Sussex introduced charging for such items.

It was a similar story at the Billingshurst and Horsham sites after Surrey County Council changed what it would accept at the Cranleigh tip.

Answering concerns that the ID checks would lead to an increase in flytipping – which the district and borough councils would have to pay to clear – officers acknowledged that there was always a ‘blip’ when policy changes were introduced.

Members were told: “The experience of this kind of thing is that generally it’s a short-lived peak and will settle down.”

Members also pointed out that there would need to be suitable turning space at the entrance to the tips so that drivers who were refused entry would have enough room to leave the site without holding up the queue.

The final decision will be taken by Deborah Urquhart, cabinet member for environment, who said she would look again at the need for two forms of ID.

‘At least two drones’ were behind the attack which caused major disruption at Gatwick Airport in December, a police investigation has concluded.

More than 100,000 people and 1,000 flights were affected when the major airport was shut down for 30 hours just days before Christmas after sightings of drones above its airfield. Read more here

Following an investigation, lasting more than nine months, Sussex Police has ‘concluded that at least two drones were behind the attack’.

The county police force said the investigation, with support from national expertise, identified, researched and ‘ruled out 96 people of interest’.

Police also said the incident was not deemed terror-related and there is ‘no evidence to suggest’ it was either state-sponsored, campaign or interest-group led.

No further arrests have been made, police confirmed.

‘No further realistic lines of enquiry’

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Miller, head of operations command, said: “This was a serious and deliberate criminal act designed to endanger airport operations and the safety of the travelling public.

“A drone strike can cause significant damage to an aircraft in flight and it is important to emphasise that public safety was always at the forefront of our response. No aircraft was damaged or passenger injured.

“This was an unprecedented set of circumstances for all agencies involved at a time when the police and the Government were at the early stages of assessing domestic counter drone technology.

“Equipment was quickly installed using both military and private assets to bring it to a conclusion and allow the airport to reopen. Measures now available have strengthened our capability to respond to and investigate a similar incident in the future.

“With support from national experts, we have carried out an exhaustive criminal investigation but, without new information coming to light, there are no further realistic lines of enquiry at this time.”

Investigation ‘centred on 129 separate sightings’

Gatwick Policing Command works with the airport and airlines to protect public safety and prevent and detect criminal activity, police said.

“Overall responsibility for airspace safety rests with the airport authority and relevant Government agencies,” a police spokesperson added.

“The police investigation has centred on 129 separate sightings of drone activity, 109 of these from credible witnesses used to working in a complex airport environment including a pilot, airport workers and airport police.

“Through corroborated witness statements, it is established that at least two drones were in operation during this period and the offender, or multiple offenders, had detailed knowledge of the airport.”

Police said witness statements showed that activity happened in ‘groupings’ across the three days on 12 separate occasions, varying in length from between seven and 45 minutes.

On six of these occasions, witnesses ‘clearly saw two drones operating simultaneously’, police revealed.

The spokesperson continued: “The significant police response required resources from seven UK police forces as well as national expertise in policing, government and the private sector.

“The policing operation and subsequent investigation has cost £790,000 and is not expected to increase further, with the bulk of the cost relating to the operational police response. Mutual aid, taken with additional officer shifts, ensured frontline policing services in Sussex remained unaffected.

“Sussex Police continues to share learning from the incident across policing and other relevant agencies both across the UK and internationally.”

Sussex Police said its response to the incident will be a ‘key focus’ of police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne’s next performance and accountability meeting on Friday, October 18 at 12 noon.

Related stories: Gatwick Airport drones: £50,000 offered for information and all sightings are revealed

Man and woman from Crawley arrested over Gatwick Airport drone chaos

Gatwick Airport closed again due to another drone sighting

The following are results, provided by HM Courts Service, of cases sentenced by Sussex Northern magistrates, sitting at Crawley from August 19 - August 23.

August 19:

Jonathan Powell, 53, of Bolton Gardens, Brent, London, pleaded guilty to driving a BMW on Charlwood Road, Crawley, on August 4, while more than twice over the drink drive limit. 
He gave a breath alcohol reading of 76 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. 
He was fined £634 and banned from driving for 22 months.

Thomas Turner, 29, of Mowbray Drive, Crawley, pleaded guilty to driving a Vauxhall Corsa, on the A23 at Albourne, on August 4, while more than twice over the drink drive limit. 
He gave a breath alcohol reading of 74 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. 
He was fined £326 and banned from driving for 17 months.

Ricky Crouch, 36, of Alder Copse, Horsham, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis when required to do so under the Road Traffic Act 1988. 
The offence took place at Horsham on July 27. He also pleaded guilty to using a BMW vehicle at Horsham on the same date with no insurance. 
He was detained in the courthouse for a period and banned from driving for three years.

Joshua Erikson, 25, of Goffs Park Road, Crawley, indicated a plea of guilty to being in possession of a quantity of cocaine. 
The offence took place at Brighton Road, Crawley, on August 4. He was fined £40.

Alexander May, 40, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to dishonestly making off without paying for fuel. The offence took place at Haywards Heath on January 16. He was ordered to pay £51.37 in compensation.

Raheem Khan, 41, of Lowe Close, Broadfield, Crawley, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop at Redhill, Surrey, on January 20. 
He was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £38.83 in compensation.

Oliver Quinn, 31, of Chart Downs, Dorking, Surrey, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour towards a police community officer. The offence took place at Kilnarn Way, Haywards Heath on May 8. He was given an 18 month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £150 in prosecution costs.

August 20:

David Eades, 55, of Turners Hill Road, Crawley Down Crawley, pleaded guilty to driving an Alfa Romeo on the A22 at Halland, over the speed limit. He was fined £660.

Roadgrade Paving Ltd, of Broadwater Lane, Copsale, Horsham, were found guilty of failing to provide information relating to the identification of the driver of a Volvo vehicle who was alleged to have been guilty of an offence. They were fined £1,000.

Wayne Mckenzie, 37, of Wheydown Close, Wandsworth, was found guilty of driving a Citroen Berlingo on the A24 Robin Hood Roundabout, at Horsham, on February 19, without due care and attention. He was fined £300 and his driving record endorsed with six penalty points. The verdict was proved in his absence.

Dayne Chadwick, 31, of Godwin Hall, Jockey Mead, Horsham, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour. The offence took place at Horsham on May 14. He was fined £50.

August 21:

Patrick Barratt, 60, of Potton End, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty to driving a BMW on Butlers Green Road, Haywards Heath, on July 19, while more than twice over the drink drive limit. He gave a breath alcohol reading of 79 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. He was fined £397 and banned from driving for three years.

Peter Burton, 53, of Bentswood Road, Haywards Heath, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on Bentswood Road, on August 7, while over the drink drive limit. He gave a breath alcohol reading of 56 microgrammes. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes. He was fined £173 and banned from driving for 16 months.

August 23:

Maqsood Ali, 48, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to causing damage to a glass door at Admiral Casino, Queens Square, Crawley, on August 9. He was given a six month conditional discharge.

Besar Matouka, 32, of Windmill Court, Crawley, pleaded guilty to driving a Volvo on the A281 at Horsham, on April 13, with the controlled drug bezoylecgonine in his blood stream. 
He also pleaded guilty to being in possession of quantities of cannabis and cocaine at Horsham on the same date. 
He was fined a total of £675 and banned from driving for one year.

Crawley Town return to League Two action following Tuesday’s Carabao Cup game with Stoke City.

It’ll be a familiar side for Crawley as the Reds have already faced the Saddlers this season in the first round of the Carabao Cup. Crawley ran out 3-2 winners with goals from Filipe Morais, Tom Dallison and Ashley Nadesan, back in August.

Walsall have struggled since their relegation from League One last season. They currently occupy 16th and have struggled for goals this season, only scoring five league goals all season.

Despite this the Saddlers provide a strong defence, with only nine goals conceded all season.

A lack of goals has been a regular theme in Walsall’s games, a complete contrast to Crawley. The Reds have scored more league goals this season then there have been total goals in Saddlers games this season, showing the lack of goals in Walsall’s game.

Walsall have started to pick their form up however, with two wins in a row. Both of these were 1-0 wins against Morecambe and Scunthorpe.

Crawley continued their good start to the league season last time out against Northampton. Despite a poor performance the Reds managed to rescue a point from 2-0 down.

Goals from substitute Ashley Nathaniel-George pulled one back for Crawley, before a 95th minute own goal, from Josh Doherty’s effort made sure the Reds went home with a point.

Crawley also conceded a questionable penalty in the first half at Northampton, which started them off on the wrong foot. Glenn Morris put in another exceptional performance, saving Northampton’s second penalty.

Hopefully the Reds can improve this week against Walsall and get all three points at home and boost themselves back into the play-off places.

READ MORE Crawley Town's Carabao Cup draw reaction: Mixed blessings for Reds after Stoke City win | Crawley Town's Carabao Cup draw reaction: 'Our boys are well up for it but I would have loved Manchester United away' | 'Bigger tie than Chelsea Reserves v Man Utd Reserves to be fair' - Crawley Town fans react to Carabao Cup draw

Horsham Police said on Twitter that the driver was caught going the wrong way round the roundabout on the junction of the A29 and the A264 at Five Oaks.

The vehicle was stopped following the incident, said police, which happened at just before 5am this morning.

The driver was issued a traffic offence report for driving without due care and attention, said a police spokesman.

Two by-elections in Crawley have seen resounding victories for the Conservatives.

Residents in Tilgate and Three Bridges went to the polls on Thursday following the death of Charles Petts, who represented the wards at borough and county level respectively.

Mr Petts died in July, aged 52.

Maureen Mwagale took the honours in Tilgate, winning 57 per cent of the vote, with the turnout standing at 29 per cent.

Her win takes the make-up of the council back to 19 Labour and 17 Conservative, the same as it was before Mr Petts’ death.

In Three Bridges, borough councillor Brenda Burgess also took the West Sussex County Council seat, with 52 per cent of the vote.

The result makes no real difference to the county council which has a large Tory majority – but things are very much on a knife-edge at borough level.

Results

TILGATE (Crawley Borough Council)

Derek HARDMAN (Green) 70

Arshad KHAN (Justice) 5

Kiran KHAN (Labour) 396

Maureen MWAGALE (Conservative) 741 ELECTED

Angharad OLD (Lib Dem) 82

Turnout: 29 per cent

THREE BRIDGES (West Sussex County Council)

David ANDERSON (Lib Dem) 257

Brenda BURGESS (Conservative) 1,102 ELECTED

Danielle KAIL (Green) 136

Arshad KHAN (Justice) 9

Angela MALIK (Labour) 628

Turnout: 25 per cent

With the proliferation of TV channels nowadays and the various platforms available, if you are looking for a touch of nostalgia or keen to rekindle some memories of yesteryear there are countless places to go.

Your age may well determine whether you hark back to an era of flat caps and muddy goalmouths or more recently a time of mullets and very ‘short’ shorts.

There was a time when players ran around the pitch with their socks around their ankles. Ok I know shin pads weren’t compulsory then...Now of course the trend is to have them above your knees! You may have still been able to wear jewellery if you were so inclined.

In fact how you looked often said something about the way you played. Even the strutting peacock himself Eric Cantona turned up those collars to reinforce the sense of superiority. It probably worked.

Then there are the boots. As the late great rugby commentator Bill McLaren once said ‘they are veritable carpet slippers to what I used to wear’.

The brands and colours change but now the endorsements are worth a few bob. I certainly feel now the rules and regulations have promoted uniformity and starved freedom of expression in football. Team spirit is essential for success but we all need to be able to show our individuality.

This season Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish has his chance to shine in the Premier League. His distinctive style is exciting and you can pick him out quickly not just by his touch and skill but also by his socks wrapped only to the top of his pads, and his boy band haircut.

Brighton defender Shane Duffy last week revealed a head shaven at the side but still with a solid band of black hair in the middle. Once again I think Peaky Blinders.

Last weekend Geordie boy Andy Carroll sported his familiar bun of hair on the back of his head. Let it fall and he would conjure pictures of Samson, the Israelite warrior whose strength disappeared if his hair was cut. So what’s my point?

Well as a commentator these small details are also very helpful when you are trying to identify a player on the pitch. The boots, the hair, the number. However, I have always felt it gives me a small window into the character that exists inside the shirt.

It may show me what makes them tick, what motivates them and how they might deal with certain situations. Whether it’s Stanley Matthews, Bobby Moore, Vinny Jones or Sergio Aguero we all have our memorable players. They are all distinctive characters. They are special, unique. Just like us all. Let’s celebrate that.

Johnny Cantor is a commentator for BBC Sussex @johnnycburger | @BBCSussexSport | www.bbc/sussex

To discover where to find the friendliest cities in the UK, Big Events Travel asked their 1.5 million strong social audience to weigh in on where you will be made to feel the most welcome. From strangers helping you find your way, to making friends with locals in a bar, these are the top 20 friendliest cities in the UK.

Join the gang as they bring their chart-busting podcast to life on stage, casting an eye over the best – and most ridiculous – moments from the footballing circus. And if you can't make it to Brighton, they are also visiting Guildford, G Live on Friday, October 18 (call 01483 369350 or click here).

The stars are Marcus Speller, Jim Campbell, Luke Moore and Pete Donaldson who can’t wait to get out on the road...

What should audiences expect?

Pete: Videos, games, nuclear-level messing about and a wealth of football-related daftness!

Marcus: We definitely approach the live shows differently to the podcast. On the podcast we want to give our views on current footballing affairs. Whereas in the live shows, we just find the funniest things to talk about and have as much fun interacting with the audience as we can each night.

How far in advance do you start writing the shows?

Luke: The main bulk of the chat is going to be having a laugh and chatting about football, that’s what people expect. And that’s a bit tricky to plan ahead for.

Pete: The live show set pieces will feature throughout the tour, but we do change it up. It keeps us on our toes and maintains that energy of a live show.

How do you prepare before going on stage?

Jim: There’s definitely a tension before a live show but I think that’s true of any live performance.

Luke: Yeah, and one of the main concerns is finding out where Pete is before we go on. In Birmingham, there was about five minutes before we were meant to go on, the videos are playing, the lights have dimmed, and Pete is on a balcony somewhere behind the stage. I’m thinking how is he going to get down here, but somehow, he always turns up.

Pete: Everyone gets quite tense, I drink one beer, and everyone starts saying ‘Pete, stop drinking’. I say, ‘I’m in a good mood’. Then we all go on.
You like to mingle with the audience after the shows and have a drink. How important is that?

Luke: Free beers are very important! Seriously, you don’t want to close yourself off to that.

Marcus: It may sound like a cheesy thing to say, but when you look at a band on stage or footballers, they obviously have a major talent and you can be in awe of them. I don’t think anyone is in awe of us and I think that is our selling point and the authenticity of the podcast. It would be ridiculous for us not to mingle with the audience and listeners and have a laugh.

Pete: One audience member kept touching my face during some post-show drinks. Feel free to touch all of our faces.

Jim: It’s often not just podcast listeners that come to the shows too – the live shows definitely aren’t an exclusive ‘listeners only’ club, so it’s good for us to meet new audiences.

Visit www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-brighton.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a police officer was seriously injured when he was hit by a passing car on the A27 north of Brighton.

The constable from the Surrey and Sussex Road Policing Unit sustained serious leg injuries and is currently receiving further hospital treatment.

The eastbound carriageway of the A27 at Falmer was closed shortly after 8.30pm on Wednesday (September 25) when the officer was struck by the car, a white Lexus RX saloon car.

The 38-year-old Eastbourne woman who was driving the car was unhurt, police said.

Related stories:

Sussex Police officer seriously injured after being hit by car on A27

The officer had been helping at the scene of a broken down lorry on one of the lanes of the carriageway since 7.35pm when he was struck by a passing vehicle just as the lorry was about to move again.

Police said they are not treating the collision as a deliberate act and anyone who saw what happened is asked to contact Sussex Police online or by calling 101, quoting Operation Fenwick.

Investigators are particularly keen to hear from anyone travelling along that stretch of road and nearby shortly before the collision, and would like to see any dash cam footage available, which will help provide a better understanding of the traffic conditions at the time.

The driver of the vehicle involved in the collision, who has not been arrested, is co-operating with the investigators, according to police.

Assistant Chief Constable Dave Miller said: “The officer is very grateful for the many expressions of support and best wishes. It was a very serious injury but we hope that he will make a steady though slow recovery. This is another example of the risks to which our colleagues are exposed as they work to keep the public safe round the clock.”

This was the third police officer to have been seriously injured while responding to incidents this week.

On Monday (September 23), at approximately 1.05am, two police officers and a man they had detained were hit by a car on the A259 at Littlehampton.

The policeman remains in hospital and is due to have surgery on a broken shoulder, an arm and leg. His colleague, a policewoman, has been discharged from hospital after suffering two fractures and extensive bruising, and is recovering at home.

A local man, who the officers arrested for possession with intent to supply Class B drugs moments before the impact, also suffered fractures but has left hospital and been released under investigation.

Jack Robson, 20, unemployed and from Holly Drive, Wick, Littlehampton, appeared at Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (September 25) charged with three counts of causing serious injury by driving dangerously, burglary, driving with no insurance, not in accordance with his provisional licence and with uncorrected vision.

It has not been plain sailing for Graham Potter and Brighton this season, but Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has his own problems and still seeks a first home Premier League win.

Chelsea, who are 11th, have drawn against Leicester and Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge this season and leaders Liverpool beat them last weekend.

Brighton have played some decent football this campaign without too much reward - they have six points from six matches. Albion have not beaten the Blues since 1933 and seek their second win of the season in west London.

On the poor home form, which includes a Champions League loss to Valencia, Lampard said: “Every week is important and the fact that we haven’t won at home in the league is something that we obviously want to correct.

“If we are going to be where we want to be then we are going to need home wins. I thought we were very unlucky last week against Liverpool. But that doesn’t help the point situation.

“We need a similar performance to Liverpool, because I thought it was very good.

“If we get that level of performance then I expect the home wins to come very soon.

“We must respect Brighton hugely because they are playing very well, playing some really good football, new manager, change of style, maybe not the points on the board that they deserve.

“We can’t – just because we haven’t had a home win - expect that it will come because we’re Chelsea and they’re Brighton.”

West Sussex County Council boss Nathan Elvery is ‘currently away from duties’ the authority has confirmed.

He joined as chief executive on a £190,000 a year salary in 2016.

Lee Harris, executive director of place services, is covering the day to day running of the council, according to an internal email.

A spokesman for the county council said: “The chief executive is currently away from duties.”

During Mr Elvery’s tenure the county council received an ‘inadequate’ rating for its children’s services in May and a poor report for its fire and rescue services months later.

Repeated questions have also been asked about a £49,500 payment made by the county council to Mr Elvery originally believed to be for his relocation to West Sussex.

However after it was revealed that he still owned his family home in Surrey alongside a new flat in Chichester, the county council said it had waived any requirement to permanently move to the county in his case.

A warning has been issued to residents over the potential risk of poachers.

In the last few years, police say they have worked 'very closely' with rural communities to 'great success' in the reduction of poaching of wild animals.

Wildlife crime officer Daryl Holter said: “We would like to encourage anyone to contact us with any information that would help in catching poachers, especially if they have been offered meat from sources other than bona fide dealers”.

"I’d also like to send a warning to poachers themselves that we are working very closely with farm and land owners and in some cases even install CCTV to catch poachers. It will not be tolerated and we will do all we can to support anyone that this crime affects.”

A spokesman said: "Poaching is a secretive business, often carried out at night and in remote locations, but if caught, poachers can be prosecuted for a range of offences.

"Game dealers, restaurateurs, hotels and public houses are being advised to check that they are not buying illegally killed game.

"They can do this by not purchasing meat from unknown persons and reporting suspicious gatherings in car parks immediately; dealers in game should show legal documentation for the sale of meat."

On Monday September 16, officers were called to reports of a vehicle with high powered lights seen to be searching farm land near Chichester at 10.30pm.

A gun shot was then heard and police said the person did not have permission to be on the land.

Anyone who suspects illegal poaching is taking place, please call Sussex Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency, i.e. poaching is occurring in front of you there and then.

Alternatively you can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.