From regency romance to scare mazes and royal visits to zoo animals, here are eleven stories that made the news.
On September 4, a long-running dispute over paperless billing made headlines after an 84-year-old grandmother from Brighton refused to pay her British Gas bill until she could do so in person.
Pat Arrend, who has lived in her home for 55 years, accumulated £1,400 in debt after being told to go paperless.
She had refused to pay her bills online, claiming the gas company was compromising her independence.
British Gas later apologised and confirmed that she would receive paper bills again.
On September 5, Angela Rayner resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary following the outcome of an investigation into underpaid stamp duty on her Hove flat.
Ms Rayner paid £40,000 less on the £800,000 property than she should have, claiming it was her main home rather than a second home.
Ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus found that Ms Rayner had underpaid stamp duty but acted “in good faith and with honesty and integrity throughout”.
Ms Rayner said she deeply regretted her decision to not seek additional specialist tax advice.
A royal visit to the south coast followed on September 6.
The Princess of Wales was photographed at Brighton’s Amex Stadium, where she attended the Women’s Rugby World Cup clash between England and Australia as patron of the Rugby Football Union.
Catherine was pictured seated in the stands of the Amex Stadium with England’s Marlie Packer and Zoe Aldcroft.
On September 7, hundreds of motorcyclists took to Brighton’s Madeira Drive for the annual Ace Café Reunion, a nostalgic event celebrating the iconic London biker café and the spirit of post-war rock ‘n’ roll culture.
Riders took part in the ‘Brighton burn up’, travelling to Brighton from the café that was a gathering place for motorcyclists in the post-war rock ‘n’ roll culture.
The event included rides, displays and prizes for the best café racer and best scooter.
Film crews were spotted in Rye on September 8 for Netflix’s latest adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
Images and video from social media showed the town centre converted into a Georgian-inspired film set, with actors and extras visible in period costumes.
The cast for the adaptation included Golden Globe winner Emma Corrin and Bafta winner Jack Lowden as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy, alongside Academy Award winner Olivia Colman as Mrs Bennet.
Producer Dolly Alderton said: “Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is the blueprint for romantic comedy — it has been a joy to delve back into its pages to find both familiar and fresh ways of bringing this beloved book to life.
On September 10, tragedy struck outside Seaford railway station when 16-year-old Joshua Ingram was fatally stabbed in what police described as a targeted attack over a £20 drug debt.
Three boys appeared at Lewes Crown Court on December 22 in connection with the incident.
A 16-year-old has been charged with murder.
On September 19, 33-year-old Jesus Lato Garzon from Watford died after falling from a hot air balloon near Wisborough Green, West Sussex.
An inquest later concluded the death was suicide.
The coroner heard that footage from the balloon showed Mr Garzon waving at the camera before climbing out.
He was described as a “much-loved son, family member and friend”.
September 26 brought happier news with the birth of a rare binturong cub at Drusillas Park.
The arrival of the cub, named Boots, is the first in the park’s 100-year history and represents a significant success for the European breeding programme for the vulnerable species.
The birth of the binturong, an animal native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, was described as a testament to the dedication of the zookeepers at Drusillas.
On October 8, a Farrow and Ball paint shop in Hove was left badly damaged after an incident that saw windows smashed and the interior coated in paint.
The shop was left cordoned off after the incident by police.
Emergency services responded to the scene and took one individual away on a stretcher.
Flag-related controversy made headlines on October 10 after St George’s flags were erected on lamp posts along the A259 between Seaford and Newhaven as part of the “Operation Raise the Colours” movement.
Lewes MP James MacCleary called for the removal of the unauthorised flags, citing concerns from residents who felt intimidated by the public display.
The issue received a mix of responses from the public, with some praising the act as patriotism whereas others felt it created unnecessary division.
On October 17, Brighton cousins Josh Metcalfe and Ben Aylward unveiled their latest Halloween maze at Josh’s home on Goodwood Way in Moulsecoomb.
Decorated with props and sets inspired by the 13th-century plague, the maze was the pair’s latest creation after six years running the event.
Mr Metcalfe said: “We get a lot of the inspiration going to places, like we went to the London Dungeons.
“The idea for this year’s maze, we thought about even before last year’s maze was done, we knew what we were going to do. So, this year we’ve gone with the plague. There’s always kind of a historic set to it.
He planned to set up a fundraiser for an Alzheimer’s charity in connection with the maze.
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