The number of new businesses in Crawley is up by 183 in the first quarter of this year.

An annual economic report has also shown that the number of company closures has continued to fall in the area.

The number of business formations is a record high in the town and a 5 per cent rise on the same period last year.

MP Henry Smith thanks the government for various support offered to small businesses that have helped make the figure so high.

A tractor, digger and two conveyor belt crushing machines have been damaged by fire in a suspected arson attack.

Surrey police are investigating the incident that happened in Newchapel on Friday just after midnight.

The conveyor belt machines had a number of wires cut as well as fire damage.

Detective Constable Eloise Lock has said these fires have caused a considerable amount of damage which cannot be overlooked.

Anyone who knows anything about what happened should get in touch with Surrey Police on 101 quoting the reference number 45140062046.

The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance has won an award for its research into the first 10 months of carrying blood on board the helicopters.

At the world’s leading aeromedical conference AirMed, it won best research poster and a cash prize of 1000 euros for the helicopter emergency medical service.

The life saving charity relies almost entirely on donations and their research has shown that on average blood was given 85 minutes earlier than before the service was launched.

In the first 10 months of the service doctors and paramedics performed 54 emergency blood transfusions on board the air ambulances.

This advance medical procedure would previously have been performed later on in hospital.

Sexual abuse cases could be “re-balanced” to make it “a little fairer” for victims to give evidence.

Alison Saunders, Director of public prosecutions in England and Wales has said victims could be told more, like what the defence case will be.

This comes a week after an inquest into the death of Surrey violinist found she had died of an overdose after testifying against her former teacher.

Ms Saunders says there’s a real issue around how victims are being treated.

The coroner at the 48-year-old violinist’s inquest says the new rules are needed to ensure vulnerable witnesses are supported.