In the pre-match press conference, Graham Potter said his players produced their best performances on the training pitch this week since his summer arrival.

Unfortunately on match day, against Sheffield United, Albion delivered possibly their worst home display of the campaign.

Sheffield United had two goals ruled out by VAR but still claimed a third consecutive Premier League win by dispatching Brighton 1-0.

VAR intervened to deny John Egan and Jack O'Connell either side of half-time but with Oliver McBurnie on target in the 23rd minute, the Blades left the south coast with all three points.

It extended their unbeaten away league record this season to nine games.

Brighton were shaky in defence, and even during the final 20 minutes when they poured forward in search of the equaliser, they looked vulnerable.

Had Republic of Ireland striker David McGoldrick - who was otherwise excellent throughout the match - been more clinical, United would have emerged comfortable winners.

There could be no complaint at the application of VAR in the eighth minute as referee Robert Jones awarded Egan a goal that was quickly ruled out.

Egan bundled home a corner that was completely missed by keeper Mathew Ryan but replays revealed it came off the arm of United's Irish defender.

It then became Brighton's turn to have a goal chalked off and on this occasion Neal Maupay was frustrated by the off-side flag having completed a simple tap-in. Martin Montoya, who crossed for Maupay after Dean Henderson had saved Mooy's initial effort, was adjudged to be offside.

The third 'goal' was allowed to stand, however, and the Seagulls only had themselves to blame after Adam Webster was guilty of heading a clearance of a goal-kick into the path of McBurnie.

McBurnie still had the challenge of Lewis Dunk to hold off but his strength took care of that task and when the target opened up before him he drilled the ball into the bottom left corner.

It was a superb goal but Brighton's defence should have dealt with the attack.

Despite enjoying most of the possession and territory, they could make no meaningful impact on Chris Wilders' team with their attack barely firing a shot.

In a bid to induce a response, Aaron Connolly and Glenn Murray were sent out for the second half at the expense of Leandro Trossard and Pascal Gross, but Brighton continued to blunder as another defensive lapse offered up a gilt-edged chance.

Webster was exposed once more but having done the hard part on shaking off the defender and rounding Ryan, McGoldrick found the side-netting.

The pressure continued and VAR came to Brighton's rescue once again as O'Connell found the net after Ryan palmed a free-kick into his path only for off-side to be called.

Henderson saved well on the 71st minute when he palmed a firm shot by Connolly over the crossbar.

McGoldrick missed another chance - although this was far harder than his previous one - before Brighton's last attack of note ended with Yves Bissouma being booked for a dive.

ALBION: Ryan, Montoya (Bissouma 56), Webster, Dunk, Burn, Mooy, Propper, Stephens, Trossard (Connolly 45), Gross (Murray 45), Maupay.

SUBS NOT USED: Button, Duffy, Bernardo, Alzate.

ATTENDANCE: 30,505

Albion head coach Graham Potter offered no excuses following their disappointing 1-0 home loss to Sheffield United at the Amex Stadium.

Brighton were second best for the majority of the match and looked extremely vulnerable in defence against a United side who are unbeaten away from home this season.

Oliver McBurnie, who played for Potter at Swansea last season, is United's record signing and scored his third goal of the season to seal the victory for the visitors

"If we think we are just going to turn up at the Amex and start passing through teams then that's a concern," said Potter. "We weren't good. Sheffield United did what they did well. First half they were better than us and deservedly it was 1-0.

"It wasn't a game of many chances and we put a lot into it, but not enough. It was a disappointing day for us. We didn't play well today. They made it difficult for us and we weren't as good as we like to be. We can look at ourselves and learn from the game, we can do better.

"We had the change the dynamic of the game at 1-0 down. Second half it was better in terms of pressure but not enough in terms of chances. You get set-backs in this competition, but we have to get ourselves ready for another tough match."

Wilder's men move up to fifth in the Premier League while Brighton are 13th on 20 points from 18 matches.

Wilder said, "We weren't at our best with the ball but we have a structure, organisation and a desire to keep the ball out of the net. We had to show all those qualities this afternoon.

"We did a job on them, should have had more possession, but we had the better chances on the counter attack and we're delighted to keep the away run going. The next two are Manchester City and Liverpool!

"We kept our shape well and were really disciplined. It's a big three points for us. You always want to get off to a good start.

"It's the Premier League, every team you come across are good and have qualities but we have some qualities as well and we've worked very hard."

Albion supporters praised Chris Wilder's team but also had a few words to say about some woeful defending, home fans booing their own team and also a "Trossard touch map".

@BennettsField
The fans that booed us off at half time need to have a bloody word with themselves. Yes we were awful but Sheff Utd are 7th for a reason. Sort yourselves out. #bhafc #neverbooyourownteam

@LaurenLaing94
That was AWFUL, from start to finish. So slow, and our passing was woeful. Duffy’s got to come back in after that performance from Webster today. Fair play to Sheff Utd though, more organised and worked much harder than us, no shock they’re 5th in the league! #BHAFC

@wilka1983
A lot of people saying we were shit today. Doesn’t really take into account Sheff U are 5th, flying and are actually a good team. We didn’t play well yes but that was because @SheffieldUnited are decent #BHAFC.

@Rochdale20
Loads of possession in second half nothing positive in terms of goals to show for it. Same as Monday. Really need to do something incisive in final third rather than always looking for that extra pass #bhafc

@NorthStandChat
Worst performance of the season from #BHAFC yielding exactly what it deserved. A stark contrast to the dominant Albion at Selhurst Park just a few days ago. Merry Christmas!

@Whittington1971
Out thought out played and out supported. Fair play to Sheffield Utd and Chris Wilder. The better club on the day. They deserve to be where they are in the league. #bhafc

@BHAseagulls_com
Disappointing performance and result. Improved slightly in the second half but to no avail. Didn't create enough opportunities with our possession. Sheffield United done well to not allow us to get into our flow. In the end, a mistake cost us

@kmoorman1968
I know we've not played well, but those who booed at half time really need to take a long hard look at themselves. #bhafc

@wearebrighton
Don't think Bissouma is going to be challenging for a Best Actor Oscar anytime soon. Into the book for his troubles #BHAFC

@MikeKing14_
BHAFC 0-1 Sheffield United - Worst home performance of the season, so frustrating. Fair play to Sheffield United though, so organised defensively and clear to see why their away record is so good.

Large areas in Alfriston are submerged under water after heavy rainfall last night.

Drone images taken by our photographer show vehicles stranded in floodwater, with long stretches of road impassable. Alfriston Road between Seaford and the A27 remains closed due to the flooding, according to travel reports. A severe flooding warning has been issued for the area. The government website warns that locations including North Street, Willows car park, Old Clergy House, Deans Place Hotel and River Lane are affected. River levels will continue to rise until around 11pm today, before beginning to fall, according to the flood alert. Today (Sunday) and Monday are expected to be mainly dry, however more rain is forecast for Tuesday. Watch drone footage of the flooding here.

Murray, 36, has been used sparingly this campaign as head coach Graham Potter has opted for the the youthful talents of Neal Maupay and Aaron Connolly.

Maupay, 23, is Albion's top scorer with seven goals so far following his £16m summer arrival from Brentford.

Connolly, 19, has had a few injury niggles but has scored twice in the Premier League and his speed and energy has caused numerous problems for opposing defenders.

Last campaign Murray notched an impressive 15 times in all competitions, while the season before - Albion's first in the Premier following promotion - he scored 14.

He was called into action for the second 45 minutes against Sheffield United and the former Crystal Palace and Bournemouth man battled well against a resolute United defence but couldn't force a way through.

“I would like more time on the field, but you have got to hold your hands up," said the veteran. "Neal (Maupay) is doing really well his return goals wise has been really good and his all round play has been very good.

"Sometimes you have just got to wait your turn and just be fit and ready for when the gaffer needs you like this afternoon, but it was unfortunately it wasn’t to be. It is a team game, it’s not just the 11 out there. It’s the 18, the 25 it is the squad and I am part of that at the minute.

"I am a constant on the bench, but you have got to hold your hands up as I am behind a good striker in Neal. If I was playing behind a striker, who had not score any goals then it might be a different case.”

Murray also feels Maupay is reaping the benefits of the hard work in training and extra finishing drills that the Frenchman has been working on.

“I think it works for any striker," Murray added. "Just doing that little bit after training every day, just getting used to hitting the back of the net. That has shown in recent games with chances have dropped to him and he has been quick and buried them.

"That is down to his hard work on the training ground and just doing extra bits in training by getting used to hitting the back of the net.”

Brighton face a hectic festive period with an away trip to Jose Mourinho's Tottenham on Boxing Day, quickly followed by a home match against Murray's former club Bournemouth at the Amex on December 28. Albion then face Chelsea on new Year's Day at the Amex, before a home FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday on January 4.

Murray insists he and the squad are ready and will rest and recover from the disappointing loss to Sheffield United.

“That is why we train so hard," said Murray. "Nothing can replicate 90 minutes in the Premier League, but you try to. I don’t think anyone can say if they not playing week in week out they are as sharp as they would be from just training, so we train as much as well as we can to replicate those 90 minutes.

“I’m sure we will sit down and review it, chat about it and we will try and learn from it, but it was just one of those days and when we review, we will move on to Boxing Day and a busy period ahead.

"You have to give credit to Sheffield United, their game plan worked and we couldn’t break them down unfortunately, but it was just one of those afternoons. They are doing remarkably well. We have got our own philosophy and we will stick to it.

“We got beat 1-0 at home, it is not like we have been drubbed 5-0. We will review it and we will move onto Tottenham and then on to the next games and so on. This league waits for nobody.

“It was disappointing, but it is not the end of the world. It is just one bad performance where we weren’t maybe quite as good as in previous games."

Our photographer Phil Westlake was there to capture the day.

Footage from a drone shows the extent of the flooding in Alfriston today.

Alfriston Road between Seaford and the A27 remains impassable, according to travel reports.

See more images of the flooding here.

A severe flooding warning has been issued for the area.

The government website warns that locations including North Street, Willows car park, Old Clergy House, Deans Place Hotel and River Lane are affected.

River levels will continue to rise until around 11pm today, before beginning to fall, according to the flood alert.

Today (Sunday) and Monday are expected to be mainly dry, however more rain is forecast for Tuesday.

SEE MORE: Major flooding in Alfriston – in pictures

East Sussex family’s Christmas presents destroyed in house fire

Police search for discarded knives in Lewes after group of youths is dispersed

Police are on the scene of a ‘significant’ incident in Crawley Down.

Officers have cordoned off Hazel Way in Crawley Down, near Crawley.

Photos show several police cars at the scene.

UPDATE: Crawley Down incident: Double murder investigation launched after deaths of two women

A murder investigation has been launched following the deaths of two women outside a property in Crawley Down on Sunday morning, police have confirmed.

Police were called to the address in Hazel Way at 10.18am where they also found a man seriously injured inside, police said.

He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, confirmed police.

Detective Chief Inspector Alex Geldart, of the Sussex and Surrey major crime team, is leading an investigation into the incident.

She said: “At this time we believe this to be an isolated incident, with no ongoing risk to members of the public.

“This is a fast-moving investigation which will see significant police resources deployed to the scene for the forseeable future.

“We are grateful for the support and patience of the local community while we conduct our enquiries.”

Responding to earlier media reports, she said she wanted to make it ‘absolutely clear’ that this was ‘not a knife crime’.

DCI Geldart added: “ My thoughts are very much with the friends and family of the two women who have sadly lost their lives.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to report online or call 101, quoting Operation Deanland.

Alternatively, please contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Results from Eastbourne Magistrates’ Court, sitting at Hastings, for November 26 - December 4

November 26:

Ben Gittins, 40, of Castledown Avenue, Hastings, pleaded guilty to failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis when required to do so by police under the Road Traffic Act 1988. The offence took place at Eastbourne on August 1. He was fined £90 and banned from driving for three years.

November 27:

Prianna Cheema, 25, of Faygate Road, Eastbourne, pleaded guilty to assaulting a man by beating him. The offence took place at Queens Road, Hastings, on November 6. She also indicated a plea of guilty to assaulting a police officer at Hastings on the same date. The offences took place during a suspended sentence period made by Brighton Magistrates for eight offences of assault. She was sentenced to ten weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months. Magistrates said the reason for the sentence was because of previous convictions.

Jaimie Dick, 43, of Cherry Way, East Grinstead, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on the A22 at Lower Dicker, on November 8, while more than twice over the drink drive limit. He gave a breath alcohol reading of 79 micrograms. The legal limit is 35 micrograms. He was fined £670 and banned from driving for 20 months.

Thomas Brown, 20, of Brunel Drive, Hailsham, pleaded guilty to driving a Citroen vehicle on Grand Parade, Eastbourne, on November 10 while more than twice over the drink drive limit. He gave a breath alcohol reading of 95 micrograms. The legal limit is 35 micrograms. The court made a community order with a requirement of 100 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for two years.

James King, 48, of South Cliff, Eastbourne, was found guilty of assaulting a woman by beating her. The offence took place at Terminus Road, Eastbourne, on August 4. The court made a community order with an alcohol treatment requirement. The verdict was proved in his absence.

Simon Corby, 35, of Coolham Road, Horsham, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on the A 267 at Hellingly on November 8, while over the drink drive limit. He gave a breath alcohol reading of 44 micrograms. The legal limit is 35 micrograms. He was fined £250 and banned from driving for one year.

Liam Hodgson, 22, of Canning Street, Brighton, pleaded guilty to driving a Fiat 500, on Dittons Road, Polegate, on November 6, while more than twice over the drink drive limit. He gave a breath alcohol reading of 82 micrograms. The legal limit is 35 micrograms. He was fined £350 and banned from driving for 22 months.

Navaratnam Chelaiah, 55, of Lexden Road, Seaford, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on Barn Rise, Seaford, on November 6, while more than three times over the drink drive limit. He gave a breath alcohol reading of 114 micrograms. 
The legal limit is 35 micrograms. He also pleaded guilty to driving with no insurance on the same date. The court made a community order with a requirement of 120 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for 48 months. He was fined £200 for the insurance offence.

December 4:

Ben McKeown, 18, of Melvill Road, Eastbourne, pleaded guilty to driving a VW Polo on Dorset Road, Bexhill, on November 13, while over the drink drive limit. He gave a breath alcohol reading of 66 micrograms. The legal limit is 35 micrograms. 
He was fined £120 and banned from driving for 18 months.

Darren Oliver, 30, of Marsden Road, Eastbourne,pleaded guilty to assault by beating. The offence took place at Broadwater Way, Eastbourne on November 12. The court made a community order with a requirement of 80 hours of unpaid work and ordered him to pay £100 in compensation.

Gift Sono, 23, of St Giles Close, Shoreham, pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle on Old Willingdon Road, Eastbourne, on July 16, while disqualified from driving. The court made a community order with a requirement of 80 hours of unpaid work and banned him for a further six months.

A man from Crawley has been charged with murder after a woman was found dead at an address in Rotherfield, near Crowborough.

Police said Jayesh Gobar, 35, unemployed of Moorland Road, Maidenbower in Crawley appeared at Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Monday (December 23), charged with murder.

He will next appear at Lewes Crown Court on Tuesday (December 24), they said.

Officers attended a property in Court Meadow Close, Rotherfield, on Wednesday evening (December 18), following concerns for the welfare of a woman.

Sadly, the body of a woman in her 50s was discovered inside the property.

The second man, a 37-year-old from Crawley, arrested on suspicion of murder has been released without charge, police confirmed.

Detective Chief Inspector Alex Geldart, Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: “This is a tragic incident and my thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim at this difficult time.”

Barcombe Mills Road is closed due to flooding, according to traffic reports.

Alfriston Road in Alfriston also remains closed due to flooding between Winton Street and the A27 (Drusilla’s Roundabout).

River levels are still high in Barcombe, but will continue to fall today, the Environment Agency has said.

A spokesman said: “Flooding impacts will continue. Locations to be affected will include a small number of properties in Barcombe Mills, including The Anchor Inn.

“Monday should stay largely dry. Light rain Tuesday morning will be followed by the chance of heavy showers Tuesday afternoon (December 24).

“As long as the heaviest showers miss the River Ouse there should not be a significant rise in river levels through Barcombe.

“Further rain is forecast for Boxing day. Again, the current prediction is that river levels should only rise a small amount Thursday (December 26).

“Please plan to avoid driving through routes vulnerable to flooding, such as Barcombe Mills Road.

“Please keep flood protection products installed in Barcombe if you have them, while the river is high.

“We are operating our structures in Barcombe to help keep the river flowing freely and reduce flood risk.”

Shoreham Vehicle Auctions has passed the £150,000 milestone in its fundraising for Chestnut Tree House, the children’s hospice for Sussex.

The annual charity auction launched in 2011, with the motor trade in Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire, and private motorists, donating generously.

The Lancing auction house is always buzzing on the day and all money raised directly goes directly to funding support for children and young people with progressive life-shortening conditions throughout East and West Sussex, Brighton and Hove and south east Hampshire.

This year’s charity auction raised £25,000, taking the total over the £150,000 mark.

Catherine Stone, dealership sales manager, has led the campaign since the auction house began supporting the hospice. She said: “We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of our suppliers who donated auction lots and to our incredible buyers who dug deep, showing incredible generosity. It was also amazing to have Olympic champion Sally Gunnell on hand this year to support proceedings.

“Once again, we are truly humbled by the support we receive year-on-year, especially on the backdrop of what has undoubtedly been a tough year for the motor industry.”

Alongside this year’s grand total, more than 13 hours of day care and 30 hours use of the hydrotherapy pool at Chestnut Tree House were pledged during the two 2019 auctions.

Caroline Roberts-Quigley, community fundraiser at Chestnut Tree House, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Shoreham Vehicle Auctions and the south coast’s motor trade for their continued support and generosity. Surpassing the £150,000 total fundraising barrier, since the partnership began in 2011, is simply incredible.

“We need to raise £6,850 every day to pay for all the specialist care services provided by Chestnut Tree House, both at the hospice and in families’ own homes, so support like this is invaluable. Thank you to everyone involved.”

Staff and customers at a Newhaven garden centre have shown their support for Christmas Jumper Day.

Paradise Park Garden Centre was full of Christmas jumpers as part of a charity fundraiser.

For one day on Friday December 13 all were encouraged to don festive knitwear at the family-run business.

Rebecca Houghton-Knapp from the centre said: “The support was fantastic. We smashed last year’s total and we are sending over £400 to the charity.”

All proceeds from the event were donated to The Children’s Society’s festive fundraiser.

Hall & Woodhouse, which owns and manages pubs across Sussex, raised more than £24,000 in 2019 through its charity dish initiative in aid of eight air ambulance charities.

The leading independent family-owned brewer is a major supporter of local good causes, partnering with this newspaper for the past 12 years to give hundreds of thousands of pounds to worthy organisations through the Community Chest.

But its good works have not ended there.

In addition, the 52 pubs in H&W’s managed house estate across the south, including The Black Rabbit in Arundel, The World’s End in Patching and The Hornbrook Inn in Horsham, have included a charity dish on the menu throughout the year, with 25p from the sale of each dish going directly to the charities.

Lucinda Gray, company relationship manager, said: “We are very grateful to all our guests for supporting our local air ambulances this year by purchasing our charity dish. Our menus explain this initiative, so our guests understand that through their choice, a 25p donation is going straight to the local air ambulance charities, to continue saving lives.

“This is one of many initiatives that we have created across our estate and throughout the two-year partnership, our team members have come together to raise as much money as possible. We are proud to have already raised over quarter of a million pounds during this partnership.”

Two years ago, H&W team members voted to make the eight air ambulance charities their official charity partner until 2020. Through the partnership, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, Great Western, Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Kent Surrey Sussex, London, Thames Valley and Wiltshire Air Ambulances will receive support from the company.

The current charity dish is ham, egg and chips, and earlier in the year it was sausage and mash.

A total of £114,287 was raised in 2018 for the air ambulance charities and the 2019 total will be calculated in the new year, having surpassed all expectations.

Please visit www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk for more information.

A new restaurant has opened at Notcutts Garden Pride garden centre in Ditchling.

The spacious 300-seater restaurant has been part of a centre-wide refurbishment which began earlier this year, including upgrades to the layout and a new state-of-the-art outdoor plant canopy.

The new restaurant, which is the largest across Notcutts’ 18 garden centres, is now serving freshly prepared breakfasts, lunches and afternoon teas with comfortable seating for a relaxed dining experience.

This month, diners can also book a two or three-course Christmas meal with traditional festive classics like roast turkey, as well as new favourites including vegan sweet potato tart.

Gary West, general manager at Notcutts Garden Pride, said: “We are thrilled that our new restaurant is now open and that customers can experience our new look throughout the garden centre.

“Our restaurant offers a fantastic dining space with rural views across the South Downs, as well as a new alfresco terrace and children’s play area which will be hugely popular. We hope local people will pop in and explore everything we have to offer.”

The restaurant also has a new feature cake counter with a selection of Notcutts’ popular home-made scones and traybakes, as well as a south-facing alfresco terrace which seats a further 80 people, and an outdoor children’s play area for little ones to enjoy.

Throughout the garden centre in Common Lane, refurbishments include an improved layout with upgraded flooring, lighting and roofing.

There is also a wider shopping variety for customers, with new concession partners The Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Cotton Traders joining Procook, Pets Corner and GBC.

In recent months, a state-of-the-art, vented plant canopy was installed, measuring at an impressive 1,000 square metres, almost double the size of the garden centre’s original canopy.

The new canopy has enabled the Notcutts team to stock a wider range of plants and gardening supplies, and to keep plants in an optimum condition through the changing seasons.

The garden centre will be hosting an official opening event to celebrate the new restaurant and refurbishment project in the new year.

According to Sussex Police, a man will appear in court next month charged in connection with Operation Diverge, the investigation into a number of cat deaths in the city of Brighton and Hove.

CPS has authorised the charge of Steve Bouquet, 52, a security guard, from the London Road area of Brighton. On Sunday, December 22, he was charged with 16 counts of criminal damage, police said.

This related to the wounding and killing of cats in the city between October 2, 2018 and June 1, 2019. He has also been charged with possessing a knife blade or sharp pointed article in a public place on June 2, 2019.

He has been bailed to attend Brighton Magistrates Court on Thursday 23 January 2020, police added.

South East District Crown Prosecutor Sally Lakin said: “Following a spate of attacks on cats in the Brighton area, the Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Sussex Police to charge Steven Bouquet with 16 charges of criminal damage, relating to attacks on 16 cats, nine of which were killed and seven were seriously injured.

“The allegations relate to incidents which took place between 2 October 2018 and 1 June 2019.

“This is a complex case and this decision was made following a careful review of all of the evidence presented to us.

“Criminal proceedings against this defendant are now active and he has a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

A CPS spokesman said they 'carefully considered which charges would be the most appropriate in this case and concluded that the defendant should be charged with criminal damage'.

They went on to say: "This does not in any way detract from the seriousness of the offence or the great distress these incidents will have caused the owners of the cats. However, under current legislation, cats and other animals are deemed as property.

"Prosecutors did consider whether to charge animal cruelty, but the circumstances of the case meant this was inappropriate, as the defendant is not the owner of the cats. In addition, animal cruelty is a summary-only offence and therefore would attract a lesser sentence than criminal damage."

A man charged after cocaine worth £10million was found concealed in a load of frozen fish at Newhaven Port has appeared in court today.

James Satterley, 50, of Kings Lane, Cookham, Maidenhead, was charged with importing class A drugs following the mammoth discovery last month.

He appeared at Lewes Crown Court today after being remanded in custody.

The National Crime Agency (NCA) said the drugs were discovered in the rear of a refrigerated van searched by Border Force as it came off a ferry in the early hours of November 23.

According to the NCA, officers recovered 97 packages containing approximately a kilogram of cocaine each.

The drugs were taken away for further analysis, the NCA said, but if cut and sold at street level it is likely the haul would have had a potential value of around £10 million.

An NCA spokesman said: “The driver, 50-year-old James Satterley from Kings Lane, Cookham in Maidenhead, was questioned by NCA officers and charged with importing class A drugs.”

NCA senior investigating officer Paul Morris said: “NCA officers are working alongside Border Force, Sussex Police, Thames Valley Police and the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit to investigate this seizure and the circumstances around it.

“Working with partners we are determined to do all we can to disrupt the organised crime groups involved in the large-scale importation of class A drugs, which fuel serious violence and impact some of the most vulnerable members of our society. Making seizures like this is an important part of that work.”

A Sussex woman has been raped by her taxi driver after a Christmas party, according to Sussex Police.

A statement from Sussex Police said: "The victim, in her 30s, had been at a Christmas party in Brighton on Friday evening (21 December), and due to her level of intoxication, her friends arranged for a taxi to take her home to Worthing.

"It is understood the driver was in a car with green and white door panels, and picked her up in Western Road, close to the junction with Queens Square, around 1.30am on Saturday (22 December).

"The victim was taken home to Worthing, where it is alleged the driver followed her into her flat and raped her."

Detective Inspector Steve Cobbett, of the Safeguarding Investigations Unit, said: “This is a highly distressing incident, and the victim has been seen and supported by specially trained officers from our Safeguarding Investigations Unit. Enquiries are ongoing, and we are keen for anyone who may hold any information about this incident to come forward.”

DI Cobbett added: “I’d also like to urge everyone to stay safe and vigilant, especially this festive season when there are likely to be more social occasions. Only get in a licensed taxi, keep in contact with friends and family, and let them know when you are safely home.”

The suspect is described by police as a Middle Eastern man with short, dark, thin hair; short, dark facial hair; big round eyes; aged in his 40s or 50s, of medium build with a large stomach. He was wearing a zip-up top which was light at the top and dark at the bottom.

Anyone with any information is asked to report it online or call 101, quoting Operation Bordon.

The partner of a firefighter missing after a Christmas party in Lewes has delivered an emotional appeal for information.

Anthony Knott, 33, from Orpington in Kent, was last seen at The Lamb pub in Fisher Street at around 7.30pm on Friday (December 20) after joining fellow London firefighters for a Christmas get-together, said police.

Anthony's partner, Lucy, has joined the search and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

“This is out of character," she said.

"He’s a family man. He loves his job; he loves his friends; he loves his kids - and it’s Christmas. This isn't something he would intentionally do. He wouldn’t want to stay away. That’s why we are extra worried because it’s just not like him and we are thinking the worst because he wouldn’t do this to us.”

The River Ouse was searched yesterday (December 23) as the search for Anthony intensified.
Superintendent Katy Woolford, who is leading the investigation, said: "We have made extensive enquiries in the Lewes area with pubs, shops, takeaways, taxi and bus services and have analysed CCTV footage but to date have not been able to locate where Anthony is.

"His family and friends are becoming increasingly worried about where he is, so if anybody has any information or saw Anthony in the Lewes area after 7.30 pm on Friday night, please contact us.

"Anthony is described as white, approximately 6', of medium build and with medium-brown short gelled hair. He was wearing a black long-sleeve top, a dark denim suit-style jacket, dark denim jeans and black shoes.

"Anyone who may have seen Anthony or who may know of his whereabouts is asked to contact Sussex Police online or by phoning 101, quoting Operation Barnstable. If he is found ill or injured, or thought to be in danger, please dial 999 immediately."