A multi-vehicle collision closed one carriageway of the M25 for several hours yesterday.

A silver Vauxhall Astra, black Renault Megane and an HGV suffered substantial damage in the incident shortly after 2 o’clock yesterday afternoon.

The anticlockwise carriageway was closed for almost 5 hours between J9 Leatherhead and J8 Reigate.

The driver of the Astra was taken to hospital with serious injuries.  No other people are reported injured.

The leader of Surrey County Council is to secure one of the most influential roles in local government.

David Hodge has been elected leader of the Conservative group at the Local Government Association and one of four vice-chairs of the LGA.

The Association represents nearly 400 councils in England and Wales.

Officers from the Sussex and Surrey dogs unit are urging caution when allowing children to play with animals.

This follows a number of incidents in Sussex in recent weeks.

Reports include children hurt by the family pet as well as animals belonging to their friends.

Inspector Di Lewis, from the Sussex and Surrey dogs unit, is reminding people that children should not be left alone with dogs.

Lewis says “Dogs can get excited when playing and may accidentally hurt children or adults. If the dog does not know the person it could become confused and think they are playing a game with it – or the animal could become scared and bite or scratch to defend itself.”

It is a criminal offence for an owner to allow their dog to bite someone, whether it happens in public or private.

Dogs can be put to sleep if they are shown to have attacked someone and the owners can be prosecuted.

If you are concerned a dog is acting dangerously out of control call 999.

An investigation has been launched after a man was seriously assaulted in Crawley.

The 43 year-old victim sustained a fractured skull during an argument in Borgan Close just before 10 o’clock Saturday evening.

The injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Police are looking for a man in his early 20’s, 5’10” tall, of skinny but muscular build with cropped blond or light brown hair.

‘Keep your cooker hob clear’.

That’s the message from West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service after three small kitchen incidents in the county over the past week.

Oven gloves left on the hob were the cause of fires in East Grinstead and Horsham whereas the third involved a chopping board which accidentally set alight.

60% of fires in the home start in the kitchen.