Heavy winds and rain have battered Sussex overnight and caused damage on the roads, too homes and caused flooding at Worthing Hospital.
Fire services were called to Worthing Hospital at around 11:30pm last night after up to three foot of water was discovered in the hospital's basement and lift shaft.
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Sussex has been hit by storms and flooding
The flooding did not affect any patients and the water was pumped out by West Sussex Fire and Rescue services overnight. The team received more than 200 flood-related calls overnight.
Meanwhile, residents in more than 20 basement flats close Littlehampton seafront had to be evacuated after they were flooded by more than one metre of water. A temporary rescue centre has been set up at the Inspire Leisure Centre. It is being run by Arun District Council and manned by the Red Cross Fire and Emergency Support Centre.
No-one was injured in Littlehampton but the emergency services warned people to keep away from the floodwater as it could be mixed with sewage after manhole covers had been lifted.
Flood warnings have been put in place for the River Mole and Gatwick Airport.
Major roads have been closed after up to 70mm of rain fell overnight. The A29 Shripney Road in Bognor was closed due to heavy flooding and other major roads such as the A23 at Horley, the A27 and the A2037 at Henfield have also been affected.
West Sussex received the worst of the weather and emergency services have been busy dealing with flooding incidents around Littlehampton and BognorAgencies who are involved and co-ordinating their response include Southern Water, the police and the Environment Agency.
Early this morning, just after 7am, the A23 was blocked both ways near Handcross because of an overturned car. On the same road near the Southwick tunnel, an accident caused the road to be blocked westbound at around 7:15am with traffic backed up to Hangleton.
London Road in Burgess Hill was closed due to a falling tree on the A259.
The Environment Agency issued flood alerts for the River Adur, the River Uck near Uckfield and Ifield Brook near Crawley.
The River Ouse and the Cuckmere were also being closely monitored.
A spokesman from Sussex Police said: "Extra care should be taken when driving because of large amounts of surface spray on roads and fallen trees. There may also be disruption to other travel and outdoor activities."
Source: www.thisissussex.co.uk
Essex CC latest (From Thurrock Gazette) - thurrockgazette.co.uk
Ravi gives England selectors a reminder
11:20am Monday 11th June 2012 in Sport
COUNTY CRICKET: Ravi Bopara gave the England selectors another huge nudge with his second century of the week as Essex drew their rain-affected LV= County Championship match at Northamptonshire.
Essex declared on 400 for six to claim maximum batting points, with Bopara scoring a magnificent 174 off 290 balls and his captain and wicketkeeper James Foster making 135 off 230 deliveries.
Northants then closed on 200 for three as James Middlebrook clobbered a century against his old club with 100 off 141 balls.
Essex began the final day on 195 for four with Bopara resuming on 87 and Foster on 60, and the former completed the 22nd century of his first-class career in the 14th over of the day.
It was also his second of the County Championship season and came off 199 balls as he hammered a four through the covers off Lee Daggett.
Bopara and Foster had already surpassed the previous record fifth-wicket stand for Essex against Northamptonshire of 147, made between Mark Pettini and Matt Walker in this fixture last season.
Foster went on to complete the 18th first-class ton of his career off 203 deliveries as the visitors moved on serenely to 282 for four at lunch.
Bopara reached 150 off 268 balls in the fifth over of the afternoon — an over in which he smashed 21 off Middlebrook Foster, however, holed out when he launched David Willey to substitute fielder Rob Keogh at long on to finally break a magnificent partnership of 294.
Bopara’s sensational innings then finally came to an end when he was caught by Coetzer at deep square leg to give Daggett his first wicket.
The Essex declaration came as soon as they reached 400, leaving Ryan ten Doeschate and Graham Napier unbeaten on 26 and 14 respectively.
Northamptonshire lost Ben Howgego in the 11th over of their innings when his off stump was taken out by Napier after making a just a single off the 27 balls he faced.
The hosts resumed after tea on 43 for one and Middlebrook completed his half-century off 74 deliveries with a huge six smashed down the ground off Tom Westley.
Coetzer made a bright 39 before he was dismissed by Napier’s yorker before Middlebrook completed his second hundred in consecutive home games off 138 balls.
But he was then bowled by Tom Craddock without adding to his total before an Alex Wakely (43 not out) single that moved Northamptonshire to 200 brought about the close.
Source: www.thurrockgazette.co.uk
Kent State Vs. Oregon, 2012 College World Series: Flashes Drop Game 2 By 1 Run - SB Nation
Kent State's incredible 21-game winning streak came to an end late Sunday night in Eugene, as the Flashes dropped the second game of the Super Regional against Oregon. The Golden Flashes led for most of the game until a costly two-error seventh inning led to the three runs for the Ducks, who closed it out for the 3-2 win.
George Roberts opened the scoring for Kent with a massive blast to left field in the second inning. In his next at-bat, Roberts added to the lead with a ripped double to centerfield that scored catcher David Lyon. KSU would squander an opportunity to plate additional insurance in the fourth but they would hold the 2-0 lead until the Ducks' rally in the seventh. Ryan Bores had a strong start for Kent, but the hiccups on defense were his undoing in the three-run Oregon rally.
Kent had a chance to tie it in the bottom of the ninth but could not even it up after T.J. Sutton led off with a double. A sacrifice bunt try failed, stranding Sutton at second with one out. Oregon then brought on closer Jimmie Sherfy, who quickly struck out the final two batters to preserve the win. It was a frustrating loss but Kent will still have an opportunity to become the first MAC team to reach Omaha since 1976 with a win on Monday night.
For more 2012 NCAA Baseball Tournament coverage, be sure to stay right here with SB Nation Cleveland's StoryStream. For more coverage of Kent State and the Mid-American Conference, check out Hustle Belt.
Source: cleveland.sbnation.com
Heavy rain brings more flood risks - The Guardian
The number of flood alerts has soared for southern England and Wales, with forecasters revealing there will be no respite from the rain over coming days.
The EA said there is a "continued" risk of surface water flooding from overwhelmed drains across parts of London, East and West Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
Some 44 flood alerts have been issued across England and Wales, with three flood warnings - the second-highest EA alert - in place for Barnham Rife, in West Sussex, and the River Mole in Surrey and West Sussex.
Further flood alerts are expected for the South West later amid forecasts of torrential downpours in Torbay and South Devon. There are no severe flood warnings, the highest alert, which mean there is an immediate danger to life.
The flooding has already wreaked havoc across parts of the country, causing the closures of roads and a hospital. Emergency cases at Worthing Hospital in West Sussex were diverted to neighbouring Brighton and Chichester for several hours overnight because of flooding.
But despite the heavy rainfall, the EA spokesman confirmed areas of southern England still remain in drought.
He said: "The rain we have had since the start of April - following the driest March for 70 years - has led to a huge improvement in water resources, putting us in a much more positive position for the summer.
"Water companies have seen reservoir levels rise, river levels are mostly back to normal, and many wildlife habitats that were suffering due to a lack of water have recovered. While the risk of drought with further water restrictions and associated environmental impacts this summer has reduced, the situation could deteriorate again next year if there is not enough rain this winter, particularly as groundwater levels are still low for this time of year."
Gemma Plumb, of MeteoGroup, the weather division of the Press Association, said up to 25 millimetres of rain could fall in parts of the Midlands, East Anglia, central southern and south eastern England. There will be light rain through central southern parts of England, the Midlands and eastern parts of England tomorrow with some heavy showers across the rest of the UK. On Wednesday there will be further showers, the heaviest of which will be across Wales and south-west England.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2012, All Rights Reserved.
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Theron signs for Sussex - ECB
Sussex have secured their second overseas player for the Friends Life t20 with the arrival of Juan Theron.
South African seamer Juan Theron becomes Sussex's second overseas signing for the Friends Life t20 after the arrival of Scott Styris
The South African seamer, who has played four one-day internationals and eight Twenty20s for his country, joins former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris at the PROBIZ County Ground.
Theron, signed by Northamptonshire two years ago, said: "I am really looking forward to joining up with Sussex as they have been a leading county in T20 for the last three seasons.
"Having spent two seasons playing club cricket in Brighton, I am pleased to be going back to renew old acquaintances and intend to be part of another successful year with the Sharks."
Sussex's professional cricket manager Mark Robinson added: "We're delighted to have captured a player of Rusty's quality and experience.
"The finish of an innings can win or lose a match and Rusty is a proven performer in the department of bowling at the death."
Source: www.ecb.co.uk
Essex: Accidents leave two in hospital - East Anglian Daily Times
An 18-year-old man was seriously hurt in a collision in Harwich High Street
By Tom Potter
Monday, June 11, 2012
6:00 AM
TWO people spent the weekend in hospital receiving treatment for serious head injuries following collisions in Essex on Saturday.
A man in his late teens was airlifted to hospital from Harwich little more than an hour after another man was involved in a collision in Chelmsford.
Paramedics were first called at 12.20pm to Parkway, where a man was left unconscious following a collision with a car.
The pedestrian, whose age could not be confirmed, was treated and stabilised at the scene before being taken by ambulance to Broomfield Hospital.
Just before 1.45pm, crews were called to Harwich High Street, from where an unconscious man in his late teens was taken by air ambulance to Queen’s Hospital.
Again, medics treated and stabilised the injured man at the scene before he was taken for further treatment.
A bicycle was also found near the scene of the crash but it is not yet clear if the man had been riding it or was on foot at the time, but it is understood he was crossing the road near the post office.
Police cordoned off the town centre street while they carried out investigations into the crash.
Both men were reported to have suffered serious head injuries in the collisions and spent the night in hospital. A Harwich shop worker described witnessing the aftermath of the crash in High Street, saying: “I heard a loud bang and went outside to see what had happened.
“I saw a boy lying in the road. He’d obviously been knocked off his bike. Lots of people started to crowd round.”
Source: www.eadt.co.uk
Sussex Cricket League round up - Lewes Priory find their form against Hellingly - Lewes Today
THE TOP three clubs in the Sussex Premier League all won their games on Saturday and current champions Hastings still head the table with Roffey and Preston Nomads in hot pursuit.
Hastings lost two early wickets at Eastbourne but Kirk Wernars (61) and skipper George Campbell (49) put together a century stand to put their side in a commanding position of 257-9 declared.
Eastbourne struggled throughout before tumbling to 87 all out and they remain bottom after six matches.
Roffey were put in at Bexhill and declared on 203-8, before bowling out their hosts for 173 despite 87 from Aussie import Andrew Harriott.
Preston Nomads made short work of dismissing East Grinstead for just 64 as Carl Simon took 4-16 and Matt Hobden 4-27.
In reply Nomads won the game by six wickets at 67-4.
Worthing enjoyed their first win of the season following their promotion last year, beating Brighton and Hove, while Horsham slumped to defeat at Chichester.
Three Bridges, relegated from the Premier League last season, have won four games in succession to lead the Division 2 table by 32 points ahead of St.James’s.
James Chadburn hit 116 for Bridges as they beat Cuckfield by 92 runs, while St James enjoyed a 76-run victory at home to Ifield.
Glynde enjoyed a 189-run win at home to Goring after rattling up 289-6 declared, of which Joe Adams hit 92 and Chris Stanyard 67, the two shared an opening stand of 163.
Matt Keen took 3-79 for the visitors, who were dismissed for 146 of which Ellis Woolley made 37, as George Hobden took 4-24 and Adam Davies 3-28.
Both Sidley’s home match with Haywards Heath and Pulborough’s match with Findon ended as draws.
Crawley are now the outright leaders of Division 3 East after demolishing Seaford by nine wickets at Southgate Park.
The league’s leading wicket taker Richard Genge took 3-33 and with 3-11 from Razwan Hussain saw Seaford all out for just 97. Harry Chaudhary made 57 not out to send the visitors away pointless.
Lewes Priory’s fortunes appear to be reviving as they won by a whopping 206 runs against Hellingly.
Lewes’s 240-7 was based largely around Andrew Hartridge’s 75 and Adam Scott’s 65.
They did however lose their previous home game after posting a similar score, but this time Hellingly were blown away for 34 in under 15 overs as Tom Sharp 7-14 and Joe Warren scythed through their batting line-up.
Ansty moved up to second after beating Burgess Hill by three wickets, while previous joint leaders Crowhurst Park had to settle for a draw at Henfield despite making 237-6 after being put in.
Keymer & Hassocks move up to fifth after a four wicket win at Lindfield.
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Print this pageSource: www.sussexexpress.co.uk
Sussex Cricket League round-up - littlehamptongazette.co.uk
THE top three clubs in the Sussex Premier League all won their games on Saturday and current Champions Hastings still head the table with Roffey and Preston Nomads in hot pursuit.
Hastings lost two early wickets at Eastbourne, but Kirk Wernars and skipper George Campbell put together a century stand to put their side in a commanding position.
Wernars made 61 and Campbell 49 to help towards at total of 257 for 9 declared as veteran former England paceman Ed Giddins took 5 for 68, Stuart Pulford chipped in with 3 for 68.
Eastbourne struggled throughout before tumbling to 87 all out and they remain bottom after six matches.
Mick Glazier send the tail packing with 4 for 8 and Wernars set things tumbling with 2 for 29.
Roffey were put in at Bexhill and declared at 203/8 with 43 from Josh Fleming and 40 from skipper Mick Norris.
Jamie Wicks took 3 for 57 and Calum Guest 2 for 53 for the home side.
Bexhill were them dismissed for 173 despite 87 from Aussie import Andrew Harriott.
For Roffey, Andy McGorian took 4 for 42 as did Luke Barnard to give their side a fourth win of the season.
Preston Nomads made short work of dismissing East Grinstead for just 64 as Carl Simon took 4 for 16 and Matt Hobden 4 for 27.
In reply, Nomads won the game by six wickets at 67 for 4 with 24 not out from skipper Jeremy Green. For the home side Lewis Hatchett took 3 for 25.
Worthing enjoyed their first win of the season following their promotion last year.
They dismissed Brighton and Hove for 140 with Chris Grammer making a top score of 30 as Benn Challen took 4 for 39 and Mason Crane 4 for 35.
Michael Gould then hit 61 as Worthing cruised to 117 for 2.
At Chichester, the home side were dismissed for 140 after being put in by Horsham.
Adam Zampa was top scorer, he made 45 as Hisam-ul-Haq took 3 for 57 and Sam Cushing 3 for 36.
Horsham tumbled to 106 all out despite 45 from skipper Craig Gallagher with Matt Geffen taking 3 for 23 and James Stedman mopping up the innings with 4 for 5.
Three Bridges, relegated from the Premier League last season, have won four games in succession to lead the Division 2 table by 32 points ahead of St.James’s.
James Chadburn hit 116 to lead Three Bridges to 212 for 6 declared at home to Cuckfield. He was well supported by Bradley Gayler who hit 36 as Ebrel Erwee took 4 for 45.
In reply, Cuckfield tumbled to 120 all out despite 24 from Tom Mole and 22 fro Kritoan Piolet. Adrian Chappell took 3 for 32.
St.James enjoyed a 76 run victory at home to Ifield after declaring at 259 for 6 with 108 from Mike Edmonds and 55 from Henry Sims. For the visitors Raza Ali took 3 for 76 against his old club.
Ifield were then dismissed for 183 with Jack Groves hitting 69 and Ali 45, Edmonds took 3 for 34 and Chris Davies 3 for 45.
Glynde enjoyed a 189-run win at home to Goring after rattling up 289 for 6 declared of which Joe Adams hit 92 and Chris Stanyard 67, the two shared an opening stand of 163.
Matt Keen took 3 for 79 for the visitors who were dismissed for 146 of which Ellis Woolley made 37, as George Hobden took 4 for 24 and Adam Davies 3 for 28.
The game at Sidley was drawn after the home side, put in by Haywards Heath, made 240 for 3 declared with 71 not out from Jon Haffenden and 62 from Sam Steel.
Haywards Heath had reached 182 for 8 at stumps with 43 from Sussex Academy prospect Ollie Graham, Ian May took 3 for 31.
It was also a draw at Pulborough where the home side declared at 219 for 8 with Rohit Jagota making 98 and Amit Suman 62, James Iago took 3 for 49.
In reply, Findon struggled to 165 for 9 of which Dan Bridson made 45, Kuldeep Rawat took 5 for 67 and Suman 3 for 35.
Middleton are the new leaders in the Division 3 West after an emphatic seven-wicket win at Steyning.
Steyning elected to bat and made 186-6 led by captain Ed Lamb with 70 and David Kennett adding 51.
Ben Hansford was out agonisingly close to a ton making 99 as they won with ease.
The previous week’s leaders Bognor Regis dropped to second as Billingshurst’s Dhanushka Mitipolaarachchi enjoyed a remarkable game to send them home with a 96-run defeat. Billingshurst’s 223 included 88 from Mitipolaarachchi while Sam Taylor returned creditable figures of 4-36. Mitipolaarachchi then took 5-27 as Billingshurst moved up to third position just ten points behind the leaders.
Sean Heather made an unbeaten century for the second win running as Stirlands won by eight wickets against Arundel.
Richard James struck 76 in Arundel’s innings of 198-9. Eight of the wickets fell to Struan Cameron who took 8-59. Heather’s 103 not out along with 66 not out from Will Gubbins took Stirlands into fourth spot.
Pagham overcame Wisborough Green to claim their first win of the season and lift themselves off the foot of the table. In a low scoring contest they passed Green’s 138 with 3 wickets in hand.
Littlehampton replaced them at the bottom after losing by four wickets at Slinfold. Their 156 owed much to 51 from Mike Askew but were pegged back by Harrison Webb taking 4-45. Hayden McIntyre hit 52 to take Slinfold to their second win in succession.
Source: www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk
FLOODY HELL: BRITAIN ON COURSE FOR WETTEST SUMMER AS DELUGE CONTINUES - express.co.uk
Flooding also caused the closure of the M1 near Leeds last night.
West Yorkshire Police said the motorway was shut in both directions between junctions 42 and 47 after flash flooding made driving too dangerous.
A man kayaks through flood water in West Sussex /SteveReigate
The carriageway later reopened at 1.40am today.
"Traffic disruption was minimal due to the time it happened," a spokesman said.
The Environment Agency said there was a 'continued risk' of surface water flooding from overwhelmed drains across parts of London, East and West Sussex, Surrey and Kent following rainfall of up to 50 millimetres in some areas overnight.
The agency said there are 35 flood alerts across England and Wales, with one flood warning for the River Mole at Charlwood and Hookwood in south east England amid forecasts of further heavy rainfall today.
Forecaster Gemma Plumb said up to 25 millimetres of rain could fall in parts of the Midlands, East Anglia, central southern and south eastern England today with the rain starting to ease off tonight.
She said: "There will be light rain through central southern parts of England, the Midlands and eastern parts of England tomorrow with some heavy showers across the rest of the UK.
A woman wades through water on the A33 near Bassingstoke
"On Wednesday there will be further showers, the heaviest of which will be across Wales and south west England."
The forecast of further rain comes after parts of Sussex were drenched by between 40 and 48 millimetres of rain overnight, with up to 25 millimetres of rain in parts of London.
The Environment Agency warned people to remain vigilant and check its website and Twitter feed for the latest situation.
The agency added that the public was "strongly" advised to stay away from swollen rivers and not to drive through floodwater.
Gwyn Jones, of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service who had been forced to evacuate a number of people said that a member of the public had called about his concerns over a reservoir on his land.
Cars splash through remaining flood water on the A63 outside Leeds
The decision to evacuate residents was based on the volume of water involved and the heightened risk from rain and debris coming down and making it an unstable structure.
He said: "Over the course of the day, we've been able to undertake two releases of water from the reservoir. We were closely monitoring the level of the river, and everything was satisfactory after those two releases.
"Subsequently, contractors and the landowner have created a permanent channel in the reservoir which is allowing the water to dissipate naturally and at a steady rate.
"Based on that information and a survey from specialist pump operators on the scene, we were able to give the advice through North Wales Police that residents were able to return to their homes."
He said they had been dealing with about six million gallons of water.
The A33 at Chineham in Basingstoke, Hampshire, could be closed for up to 24 hours after flooding.
Police advised motorists to use alternative routes to access the area.
Source: www.express.co.uk
Essex rapist Jon Molt jailed after being traced by DNA - BBC News
A rapist has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years after being convicted of attacking a 15-year-old girl in an Essex woodland almost 15 years ago.
Jon Molt, 34, was traced after his father provided a DNA sample as part of the police inquiry into the rape in Ten Metre Wood, Harlow, in December 1997.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard the sample provided a "familial match". Molt, from Rushes Mead, Harlow, had denied rape.
His victim said she was "extremely grateful" to police for catching him.
Prosecutor Carolyn Gardiner said the girl had attended a Christmas concert at her school and became concerned that her boyfriend, who played in the band, was not there and decided to walk to his house.
'Brutal attack'As she passed through a secluded area of the wood she became aware of somebody running behind her, the court heard.
Ms Gardiner said as the attacker tried to remove the girl's school uniform, she said: "Please don't hurt me, I'm only 15."
The prosecutor said: "She screamed and he struck her and said 'If you scream again I'm going to kill you and I'm going to kill you bad'."
“Start Quote
End Quote Rape victimI would like to thank them not only on my behalf, but for any future victims of this man who will now never have to go through the ordeal that I have had to endure”
Despite a major investigation and a Crimewatch appeal, Molt was not traced until a DNA match was found almost 15 years later.
The court heard that, at the time of the attack, Molt worked in a Blockbuster store near the woodland.
Senior investigating officer, Det Ch Insp Rob Vinson, said: "Jon Molt believed for over 14 years that he had got away with this brutal and shocking attack on a young girl who had just left a school carol concert.
"He hadn't and he will now be going to prison for a long time."
The case is the first time familial DNA has been used by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate to track down an offender.
The victim, who is now married and living in London, said: "It is difficult to describe the sense of relief that I feel now that this man has been caught.
"Fourteen years is a long time and I was beginning to believe that he would never be caught.
"I am extremely grateful that Essex Police continued to investigate the crime and I would like to thank them not only on my behalf, but for any future victims of this man who will now never have to go through the ordeal that I have had to endure."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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