The occupants of the Audi A3 which police were following abandoned the vehicle after coming across a queue caused by the level crossing barrier in Horsham Road being down.

The pursuit continued on foot and officers arrested three people, having called for assistance from the police helicopter. Two men and a male youth have appeared in court in connection with the incident.

Shane Breaker, James Carty and a youth, who cannot be named because of his age, have each been charged with entering a property in Crabbet Road, Three Bridges, and another in Langridge Lane, in Broadbridge Heath, with intent to steal last Wednesday (October 1).

On the same day they are also accused of stealing a Stihl leaf blower in Billingshurst Road, in Broadbridge Heath.

The trio are also charged with handling stolen goods, namely an Audi A3 car, in The Birches, in Three Bridges, between August 14 and October 1.

Breaker, 34, from Cranleigh, in Surrey; Carty, 22, from Ivy Hatch Residential Site, in Outwood, Surrey, and the youth appeared at Crawley Magistrates Court last Friday.

Breaker was released on conditional bail with a curfew in place to remain at his home address between 8pm and 6am. He will appear again at Lewes Crown Court on October 20.

Carty was also released on conditional bail and must also report to Reigate Police Station on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm.

The third defendant will also appear again at crown court later this month.

David Streeter appeared at Horsham Magistrates' Court last Friday for the continuation of his trial which was adjourned the week before.

Streeter, from Cherry Lane in Langley Green, was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and failing to ensure its welfare.

Between June 19 and June 28 last year Streeter was accused of failing to provide his pet with the necessary veterinary care when it was ill and suffering with diarrhoea.

Then on June 28 he was charged with causing the female tabby cat unnecessary suffering when he drowned it in a box filled with water in his garden.

Prosecutor David Buck argued this would have caused the cat "extreme stress and anxiety".

Magistrates found the 63-year-old had taken inappropriate action by killing his pet tabby cat in this manner. He was found guilty of both charges.

Streeter was released on bail and will be sentenced on November 3.<

Paul Kehoe spoke at a fringe event at the Conservative Party Conference last week.

Mr Kehoe called on the Airports Commission to support expansion at Gatwick because he believes it will create more competition and choice for passengers.

He said: "Passengers and businesses tell us they want to fly direct. With our region attracting over a quarter of the UK's foreign direct investment, we are clear that the answer is a network of national long-haul airports.

"Growth at Gatwick will support demand for greater connectivity, improving value for passengers flying from the South East, and support the continued growth of our regions."

JOSH WRIGHT's loan spell at Crawley Town has been cut short after he returned to parent club Millwall.

Wright joined the Reds on a three-month loan deal back in September, making four appearances for John Gregory's side, including two starts.

But a 24-hour recall clause was included as part of the deal after 28 days, which has now been invoked by Millwall, with Wright going back to The Den. 

A POLICE officer from Crawley and seven of his colleagues are taking on a 20km obstacle course for charity.

Sean Keelan, who lives in Gossops Green, served with Sussex Police for three years before he transferred to the Met in 2008.

The 29-year-old is part of Team Zulu Delta, who are taking part in the Spartan Beast event in Nutley on Saturday, October 11.

Sean said: "We will be taking on one of the country's toughest obstacle courses with mud, climbing and water obstacles across off-road terrain with hills and woods.

"We are raising money for Hounds for Heroes. They are a charity who provide assistance dogs to injured military and emergency services personnel.

"This is obviously a cause close to our heart and it's our way of saying thank you for all they are doing for our country."

Team Zulu Delta have already taken part in two other charity events, raising more than £3,000 for The Cleft Lip and Palate Association and Child Bereavement UK, and this time are aiming to bring in £1,500.

Anyone wishing to make a donation should visit www.justgiving.com/teamzd

TWO competitive siblings are captaining two teams of schoolchildren who are taking each other on in a Saturday-morning MasterChef-style TV programme.

The six kids, led by Sofia and Zak Ali, from Maidenbower, are to appear on ITV's The Munch Box, which will be aired in December.

Sofia and Ali, along with four friends, were filmed for six-and-a-half hours for the 45-minute show on Tuesday.

The Munch Box involves two teams of children cooking their signature dishes, having to prepare a particular recipe on the day that they have no prior knowledge of and mimicking a meal created by a celebrity chef.

Sofia and Zak's mum Karen Ryan explained that her children "absolutely love" cooking.

The 47-year-old, from Redgrave Drive, said: "They are quite good cooks. They have been cooking since the age of five.

"I am a terrible cook. Their dad Waqar cooks all the time and he's encouraged them into the kitchen and they do a lot of Asian cooking.

"Sofia and Zak absolutely love cooking and when they saw the advertisement for the show they said 'that's what we want to do'.

"I am banned from cooking – they fight over who cooks."

Karen explained that Sofia brings her and Waqar breakfast in bed on a Sunday, of French toast with different toppings, with a menu and a drink – and charges them for the privilege.

"It's very expensive," Karen said.

She added: "Zak has a fantastic palate. He won't touch fast food. He had his first oyster at the age of five – he said 'that's really nice'."

Sofia and Zak auditioned to be on the programme and then selected their friends Olivia Moore and Jennifer Ndukuba, both 10, and Kai Forrester and Matt Davies, both 11, to join them on their teams for the boys versus girls competition. They found out they'd been selected at the end of August.

Olivia started at Handcross Park School in September, having previously gone to Maidenbower Junior School, where Jennifer and Sofia go.

The three boys are pupils at Oriel High School.

While Zak, 11, is sure he is going to win, Sofia, 10, thinks her brother has no chance.

Zak said: "I was ecstatic when I found out we'd been selected for the programme. I was jumping up and down."

Speaking on Monday before the filming, he added: "I am really excited about the filming and am feeling very competitive with my sister.

"I think we've got it in the bag. The only thing I'm nervous about is the timing of the dish."

Zak's team was cooking seafood linguine, garlic bread and a fennel and pomegranate side-salad.

But Sofia, with her team's spicy lamb cutlets on curry mash with a mango and pomegranate raita and coriander and mint chutney, thinks the girls will rise victorious.

She said: "I am feeling very competitive and strong and I know I am going to beat him because I have got a winning dish."

The winning team receives a Munch Box apron and for Sofia and Zak they will have the pride of beating their sibling.

The team at the store, led by Markus Wood, a former Hazelwick School pupil who launched the company in 2000, have come up with a list of ten of the most interesting and unusual products they sell.

1: Sonos wireless multi-room audio

IF you have housework to do in a number of different rooms here is one way to make sure you don't have to have the radio in the kitchen on at full blast. You can buy as many speakers as you want and place them around the house and the Sonos system will then play your favourite tunes from all of them. So you can wander around the house with the music remaining in perfect sync in every room.

One device, such as a tablet or smartphone, can control all the speakers at the same time.

Price – from £169

2: Sony hi res audio products

EVERYONE has heard of HD, or high definition – the razor-sharp resolution that brings wildlife programmes to life, that is the scourge of early-morning TV presenters, and that serves to make some politicians look even scarier.

High resolution audio will do for your ears what HD TVs did for your eyes. It has been described as just like being in a recording studio or at a live performance, revealing subtleties and clarity of sound that bring your favourite tracks to life.

Price – From £649

3: Samsung washing machine with wi-fi

SMARTPHONES are becoming central to modern living with the sheer number of uses you can put them to, and now you can even use them to control your washing.

With this washing machine and the correct Samsung app you can instantly start or pause your washing and keep an eye on cycle selections, remaining time and receive alerts when the cycle is complete. It can also be used to send you messages if there is a fault with the machine, so that you can get things fixed before they become a major problem. Both iPhone and Android devices can be used as long as the device and the washing machine are connected to your wi-fi.

Price – £1,499

4: LG OLED 55-inch TV

SOUTH Korean electronics company LG is now showcasing organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology in its TVs at Avensys.

The simplest way of explaining OLED is that it gives you superb picture quality and pin-sharp clarity without using as much energy.

So you can relax while watching wildlife documentaries, safe in the knowledge you're doing your bit to be green from your sofa.

A monster 55-inch screen will make you feel like you're at the cinema in your own home, with the added bonus that you won't have to deal with a tall person with big hair sitting in front of you and slurping a fizzy drink.

Price – £1,999

5: Panasonic HX-A500 headcam

THIS headcam allows its wearer to shoot high-quality video in 4K – or ultra HD.

The headcam is lightweight and compact and is easily attachable to your head or body.

It is also waterproof up to three metres and dustproof, so whether at the beach or scaling a rock face you can be confident your hands-free filming will give you great results.

You may inadvertently end up a YouTube sensation too if you capture an "epic fail" on camera.

Price – £379

6: Smeg fridge

PASSIONATE Brits, fans of Brit Pop or vexillologists (those involved in the study of flags) will find this 1950s-style Union Jack fridge hard to beat.

Any Red Dwarf fans might also like the brand name.

A balance of technology and design, it can be filled with beer for a great night in or packed out with the family's weekly shop.

Price – £1,099

7: Nespresso Magimix

THIS is perfect for those who love quality coffee without having to venture out to grab one.

The Nespresso Magimix can make more than 20 different coffees so you can make something to suit all tastes. With so many options available you might find you are struggling to get to sleep at night, however!

Price – £199

8: Miele H6560BP oven

NOT everyone enjoys cooking but anyone with an interest in gadgets might well be offering to sort out dinner a bit more regularly once they get their hands on this high-tech oven.

All 11 cooking functions and the powerful variable grill are controlled by sensor, so rather than turning dials or pressing buttons you simply touch the relevant setting.

While you may insist to the children that it's not a toy, you'll probably find yourself playing with the controls yourself when they're not looking.

You won't have to wait for this to preheat if you're in a hurry as it has a rapid heat-up function which gives near instant cooking temperature.

Price – £1,999

9: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Turntable

WHO says MP3s and digital libraries are the best way to enjoy music?

They may seem from a different age to some, but turntables can still mix it with the best modern music systems and there is still something so charming about vinyl. These turntables combine the purity of vinyl with the added benefit of the latest sound technology. Just don't keep your records too close to the radiator.

Price – £325

10: Foresight Golf Pro Simulator

IF money and space are no object, how about this toy for when the weather won't allow an actual game of golf. Wannabe Rory McIlroys can test their skills on all the major golf courses around the world and access performance-enhancing analysis and more stats than you can shake a golf club at.

The accuracy and realism is exceptional as you'd expect from a company that's the official partner of the USPGA.

Price – £25,000

SITTING in a freezing cold wood or on a damp river bank waiting for the perfect photo opportunity may not be everyone's cup of tea.

But this level of dedication is what led an amateur photographer to be shortlisted in a competition which aims to find the county's best wildlife photographer.

Martin Munn, a regular contributor to the Crawley News' Picture of the Week feature, is up against 11 other talented snappers in Sussex Wildlife Trust's annual Simply the Best contest.

His entry is a stunning photo of a ladybird taking refuge amid the petals of a tulip.

Mr Munn, 41, from Alberta Drive, Smallfield, took the snap in his father's garden in Roffey.

Martin fits his passion for photographing wildlife around his job in design and print, although he admits that finding the perfect picture comes at a price.

He said: "First you have to find your subject and then find the patience to sit or lie somewhere and hope that you get one great shot."

The ladybird photo has already been selected to appear in this year's RSPB Love Nature calendar.

Sussex Wildlife Trust judges picked the final 12 from 600 photographs – the most ever submitted for the annual competition – and all 12 will feature in an online calendar, available to download in December. The winner will be decided by a public vote.

To vote for your favourite photograph visit www.sussexwildlifetrust.org.uk. Voting closes on Sunday, October 19.

SHOPPERS were left "gobsmacked" when Queen Square became a wall of noise as more than 120 flashmob dancers appeared out of nowhere at the weekend.

The Ariel Drama Academy wowed passers-by in Crawley town centre on Sunday afternoon with a surprise fully choreographed dance to a number of Elvis Presley songs from the musical All Shook Up.

Nicci Hopson, Ariel Drama Academy principal, said: "More than 120 of the students had been rehearsing in secret and it worked perfectly on the day.

"They were all in the Queens Square area either by the bandstand looking at their watches or in the shops when the music suddenly kicked in and they all rushed out dancing. The looks on people's faces were amazing. You could tell they were gobsmacked.

"There were a lot of double-takes and shoppers put down their bags to watch. It created a great buzz and atmosphere."

Following the flashmob, a number of songs were performed by the Ariel Junior Musicality Choir and also the Ariel Adult Choir.

The surprise performance was put on to raise funds for the Matthew Russo Foundation which collects funds to support children with special needs and organisations supporting families at times of bereavement.

The charity was set up in memory of seven-year-old Matthew Russo, from Tilgate, who died in 2010 in an accident after choking on his lunch.

Matthew's sister Christina attends the drama academy in Crawley.

PUPILS from a Three Bridges school said 'cello' to other students from across the region as they joined together in harmony at Ardingly College last week.

On Monday last week Ardingly College welcomed students from Hazelwick School in Three Bridges, Michael Hall school in Forest Row, Oathall Community College in Haywards Heath, and Downlands Community College in Hassocks to join the school's own musicians for a middle school orchestral day.

During the day the orchestra, which numbered more than 80 children, split up into sectionals for individual group rehearsals.

Young conductor Jonny Lo led the day, and with help from Ardingly's own visiting music staff, produced a concert performance. It included Eric Coates' Dambusters' March, Rossini's William Tell Overture and the first movement from Haydn's Symphony 104.

Jonny Lo, musical director of four different orchestras and conducting fellow of the Birmingham Royal Ballet, said: "It has been a wonderful day. It is great that the students come from all these different schools and have worked so well together. Opening up the world of music to young people is important and I have spotted some promising musicians today."

TULLEYS Farm was taken over by 183 zombies last Saturday night as a bizarre new world record was set.

To launch the farm's annual Shocktober Fest attraction a record was set for the largest ever zombie Zumba class.

It will probably come as no surprise to discover that there wasn't an existing record to beat.

As if being dressed as zombies wasn't eye-catching enough lots of the participants decided to don neon outfits as they followed the moves of a qualified Zumba instructor during a 15-minute fitness class.

Following on from Saturday's Shocktober Fest launch, the Turners Hill farm's Scream Park will be open to visitors from this Saturday (October 10) to November 2.

The zombie Zumba followed unsuccessful attempts in 2013 and 2012 to set records at the farm for the largest vampire gathering and the largest zombie gathering.

Tulleys owner Stuart Beare said: "We have registered the zombie Zumba with Guinness World Records, but as they don't currently have a category for the largest Zumba class featuring zombies we will have to wait to find out if Guinness recognises it.

"It's never been done before, so as far as we're concerned we set the world record."

According to Guinness' criteria for zombie world records all participants must be wearing zombie make-up which includes a white face, dark eyes and some red colour and/or zombie clothing.

Saturday's fitness class featured some zombie dance classics, including Michael Jackson's Thriller, The Time Warp, and a Ghostbusters/Gangnam Style mash-up.

"The opening night of our Shocktober Fest Scream Park has become a traditional dressing up opportunity," Mr Beare added. "Fans love to get into the spirit of it. We had some amazing costumes and make-up and we were delighted to see many dressed as sporty zombies."

A DAD who insists he does not use drugs has been convicted of possessing cocaine.

Wayne Poole was found by a bouncer to have a quantity of the drug on him at Bar 7, Pegler Way, in the town centre, on Saturday, September 13.

Police were called and the 42-year-old, from Coombe Hill Road, East Grinstead, was arrested and charged.

He pleaded guilty to the offence at the first opportunity at Crawley Magistrates' Court on Wednesday last week.

David Holman, prosecuting, told the court: "The defendant went to a bar in Crawley and was searched upon entry.

"Door staff found an empty 'deal bag' and it seems, despite that, they allowed him entry.

"Another member of door staff later saw him hiding a small amount of white powder behind a plant pot.

"Police were called and, as they arrived, they saw him bend down and retrieve something from the plant.

"They also noticed he was hiding something about the size of a small Malteser in his hand.

"It was tested at the police station and confirmed to be cocaine."

In mitigation, the court was told that Poole, a dad of two, is "not a drug user" and simply had a "one-off recreational mad moment".

Poole was given an 18-month conditional discharge and fined £415.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £130.

THE musical director of a Crawley choir will have his work performed at an international festival.

Ian Assersohn, director of the Crawley Concordia Singers, won a contest to have his musical composition performed at next year's International Male Voice Choral Festival, in Cornwall.

Mr Assersohn put together his own version of Lord Tennyson's poem Crossing The Bar and its performance came out on top at a composers' competition last month.

Announcing Mr Assersohn's composition as the best among 40 entries, adjudicator Alan Bullard said: "Ian has created an effective and moving work which represents the best of the male voice choir tradition, with shapely melodic lines, a sense of musical climax and a traditional but effective harmonic control."

Mr Assersohn was presented with a silver cup and a £1,000 prize.

The biennial International Male Voice Choral Festival will take place between April 29 and May 4 next year, with more than 60 choirs converging from around the globe for 50 concerts.

Crossing The Bar will be performed during the festival.

Meanwhile, Mr Assersohn and the Crawley Concordia Singers have begun rehearsals for their Christmas concert.

Rehearsals take place every Thursday at 7.45pm in Crawley United Reformed Church, in Worth Park Avenue, Pound Hill.

New members are needed, especially tenors.

For more information visit www.concordiasingers.org.uk