Best news pictures from Brighton and Sussex in 2023

Below is a gallery of some of our favourite pictures from the last year.

Kenta Matsumoto crossing the finish line at the Brighton Half Marathon (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

When student Kenta Matsumoto crossed the finish line at the Brighton Half Marathon in February, he was overcome with emotion, collapsing into the arms of a steward - but little did he know he would make the front page of the following day's Argus newspaper.

He had just achieved a new personal best time of one hour and 11 minutes, earning him 12th place in the 13-mile race.

We spoke to Kenta after the race: Meet the runner behind incredible photo from half-marathon finish line

A man gets a tattoo at the Brighton Tattoo Convention in February (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

A Metropolitan Police officer in the manhunt for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon's baby (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The city was shaken after a national manhunt for fugitives Constance Marten and Mark Gordon and their two month old baby ended in a woodland in the outskirts of Brighton on February 27.

The pair, who were on the run for 53 days, were found without their newborn and a large-scale hunt across the area ensued to find her.

Her remains were found three days later in a bag inside an allotment shed nearby.

A woman pays tribute to the baby (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Refugee puppet Little Amal interacts with a police officer on Brighton beach (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

In March a giant puppet of a ten-year-old Syrian refugee, called Little Amal, visited Brighton as part of an international tour to highlight the refugee crisis.

In May, Brighton and Hove City Council turned red as Labour took over from Phelim Mac Cafferty's Green party.

Councillor Bella Sankey stepped up to be leader of the new Labour administration.

Former Green council leader Phelim Mac Cafferty is consoled after losing the election (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The Murder Capital frontman James McGovern crowdsurfs at the Great Escape Festival (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The Great Escape music festival returned to Brighton for its 17th year and hundreds of artists descended on the city for intimate gigs.

Unlike regular festivals with a set location, The Great Escape takes place at existing venues across Brighton and Hove from nightclub Chalk to the Dome.

Brighton and Hove Albion secured their place in the Europa League for the first time in the club's more than 120-year history, after a 3-0 victory against Premier League team Southampton in May.

Jason Steele celebrates with Levi Colwill at the Amex stadium (Image: Gareth Fuller / PA)

A surfer wearing a gas mask leaves the water during the Surfers Against Sewage protest against Southern Water (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Also in May, hundreds of protesters demonstrated against sewage spills into the sea by Southern Water.

The full Strawberry Moon rose behind the Belle Tout lighthouse near Eastbourne in June.

The Strawberry Moon rising above Belle Tout lighthouse (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

A firefighter wearing breathing equipment rests after working inside the Royal Albion hotel (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Two months later, the Royal Albion hotel in Brighton went up in flames and turned into a multi-day firefighting operation with dozens of firefighters travelling from as far as London to battle the blaze.

Hundreds of people visited the seafront to catch a glimpse of the charred structure before it was demolished.

Just days later cyclists took over the city's streets for Dom Whiting's drum and bass event which saw thousands take to the pedals and ride across Brighton to Whiting's soundtrack.

Madeira Drive was swarmed with cyclists (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

A boy jumping off the Doughnut Groyne in Brighton (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Summer in Brighton was as busy as ever, with scorching temperatures. Youngsters jumped from groynes to cool off in the sea, despite warnings from lifeguards.

Two men embrace at Brighton Pride's main festival in Preston Park (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Hundreds of thousands made their way to Brighton for its annual Pride festival despite the weather and lack of train service to celebrate the thriving LGBT+ culture in the city.

There was a huge festival in Preston Park with a bill including the Black Eyed Peas and Zara Larsson.

Festivalgoers braved the rain (Image: Simon Dack)

Brighton and Hove Albion line up with AEK Athens for a team photo ahead of their first Europa League game (Image: Simon Dack)

The Seagulls kicked off their first time in the Europa League against Greek side AEK Athens in September.

A 3-2 defeat didn't stop the team as they went on to win in the group stages against Marseille, Ajax and Athens.

Brighton and Hove Albion fans celebrate the first goal against AEK Athens during the first match of the Europa League (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

A member of the front of house team puts the finishing touches to the Brighton Dome's newly refurbished Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre buildings after six-year-project (Image: Gareth Fuller / PA)

The Grade I and Grade II listed Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre in the Royal Pavilion Estate reopened for live performances in November.

The refurbishment was part of a £38 million regeneration project to make the area a landmark UK arts and heritage destination.

Harlem Eubank punches Timo Schwarzkopf during the Bloodline fight at the Brighton Centre (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

Brighton also welcomed back the Eubanks for the family's first fight in the city for 32 years.

Chris Eubank Sr's nephew Harlem fought Timo Schwarzkopf in the Brighton Centre for 11 rounds before a right hook to end the fight.

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