our correspondent robert hall is at the thames estuary near gravesend.h his binoculars, i assume? how is the spotting going, robert? well, in my case not terribly well, but you turn up for work and somebody says would you like to go whale watching in kent? you can't really complain, can you? it is appearing regularly, and i havejust walked up to the spot about a quarter of a mile from here and i can report it was seen again about five to ten minutes ago, so it is still there. that is causing a little bit of concern now because the wildlife experts that are on patrol out on the river with the port of london authority had hoped that the whale, which they think was feeding, would have moved on by now. the tide is dropping, thatis on by now. the tide is dropping, that is making them worry a bit. remember back in 2006, the bottlenose whale came up the thames further up, bottlenose whale came up the thames furtherup, iadmit, but bottlenose whale came up the thames further up, i admit, but it got into trouble and that whale was not able to be saved. the experts

it is not even essex, it is gravesend. where it should be. it is spending a bit of time around the station. i am being told between kent and sx is the information i am getting from my geographically astute producer. -- essex. u nfortu nately astute producer. -- essex. unfortunately he only surfaces every 15 minutes. and it is not a great photo. it is a bit like the loch ness monster, you get a hump. they are keen he will swam out of the estuary, so maybe by morning he will be gone, but we will wait and see. i will pause and look ahead, not from the papers themselves but the tory party conference starting next week, we are in that kind of season. you we re we are in that kind of season. you were saying that you are free of conference season. will you miss going to the conferences?” conference season. will you miss going to the conferences? i will get to the tory party conferences, it is a strange event compared with the labour one, because the labour one is heading towards something where members have a say, and the tory party conference remai

robert hall, bbc news, gravesend. we will let you know on that one. that is it for now. thank you.nd windy for northern ireland and scotland, with some outbreaks of rain. across much of england and wales we saw a good deal of sunshine, and it's a similar day on wednesday. we keep this piece of cloud over the atlantic, extending into northern ireland and scotland. the heaviest of the rain through wednesday looks likely to be across the western isles and the scottish highlands. the odd spot of rain, some patchy drizzle at times for northern ireland, under cloudy skies, and we'll see a bit more cloud sinking its way across northern england, maybe with the odd spot of rain. but there'll be some sunshine across eastern scotland, north—east england, and that extends all the way down across much of england and wales. now, these are the average wind strength through wednesday afternoon. gusts once again will be higher, but not as strong as we saw on tuesday — a0 mph at times across scotland and northern ireland. in the sunshine, temperatures quite widely up to 20 or 21 celsius, including a

but it was spotted in the thames' estuary near gravesend in kent this afternoon.it should be and may well be lost and in trouble. robert hall has been watching from the shore. have you seen it? the short answer is no but you don't often asked to get to go whale watching. a lot of excitement that the beluga should be here to see it but also concern the creature can get out of the thames. fingers crossed a night, those with the patients got a free show. thousands of miles from the arctic, just 24 from the centre of london. when a bird watcher on the salt marshes east of gravesend court a glimpse of a white shape just offshore, he could not believe his eyes. one of the rarest of sightings. within hours, the news had spread across social media bringing wales spotters out to the river banks for a glimpse of the visitor. as soon as i arrived i saw a glimpse of it but it has been servicing every 20 minutes or so. seeing a beluga whale, something i never thought i would see in britain, let alone in london. patrols from the port of london authority have helped to keep the

robert hall, bbc news, gravesend.test is. the best i can do is to eat saying the whale is headed out to sea again after it discovered how much it cost to rent a i—bedroom flat in zone one in london! you can reach me on twitter — i'm @ bbc mike embley much more news on our website as well. thank you forjoining us. hello. tuesday was a day of contrasts across the uk. cloudy and windy for northern ireland and scotland, with some outbreaks of rain. across much of england and wales we saw a good deal of sunshine, and it's a similar day on wednesday. we keep this piece of cloud over the atlantic, extending into northern ireland and scotland. the heaviest of the rain through wednesday looks likely to be across the western isles and the scottish highlands. the odd spot of rain, some patchy drizzle at times for northern ireland, under cloudy skies, and we'll see a bit more cloud sinking its way across northern england, maybe with the odd spot of rain. like maybe with the odd spot of rain. tuesday, stronge per like tuesday, str

no idea where it is this morning, but we are in gravesend.y‘s lover used by thejudge who presided over the famous obscenity trial in 1960 is to be sold at auction next month. sir lawrence byrne carried the novel, which tells the story of a passionate affair between an aristocrat and her husband's gamekeeper, into court each day. sothebys say the judge's wife had even picked out the sexually explicit passages. it could fetch £15,000. thejudge's the judge's wife stitched together a lovely damask bag, to provide a demure covering so this racy book would be hidden away before her husband took it into the court room. i love that even the cover of the book had to be covered up, and it was put in a special bag. and his wife had gone through and picked this bit, this bit, this it... £15,000. might be more, who knows? and things go from bad to worse for manchester united, but i will start by talking about derby. a great result for frank lampard. he excelled as a footballer, tried his hand in television studios and was pretty good at that, and did some

it was seen swimming in the river near gravesend yesterday afternoon.ly found in artic waters and they were last spotted in the uk three years ago. that's a summary of the latest bbc news. we are going to talk to somebody live in gravesend about the resurfacing of the beluga whale, before then, please, come up with a name for said whale! do get in touch with us throughout the morning, use the hashtag victoria live. if you re emailing and are happy for us to contact you, and maybe want to take part in the programme, please include your phone number in your message. if you text, you ll be charged at the standard network rate. labour leaderjeremy corbyn will address his party conference this afternoon, with a promise to create 400,000 new greenjobs. it's one of a number of policies the party's leadership has announced this week — incuding plans to force large companies to to give staff1 percent of their shares a year, and renationalise the water industry. 0ur political guru norman smith is in liverpool. people piling in for the big speech, i have my cap re

robert hall, bbc news, gravesend.she attended the opening of a major art exhibition. meghan joined guests at the royal academy of arts in central london. the show is the first major survey of pacific island art to be held in the uk and also marks the 250th anniversary of captain cook's first voyage to the pacific on the endeavour. our arts editor will gompertz has taken a look. we're used to a bit of a song and dance being made about an exhibition opening, but not quite on this scale. this is the pacific islanders' way to mark the first—ever show of their art and culture at the royal academy in london. a special event that was made even more memorable with the arrival of the duchess of sussex... for her first solo official engagement. she appeared particularly taken with this 18th—century costume of the chief mourner from the island of tahiti. the exhibition covers around 600 years of oceanic artworks, from this centuries—old maori carving to these photographic portraits of life—casts taken in 2010. it's actually thes

robert hall, bbc news, gravesend.ening, when she attended the opening of a major art exhibition. meghan joined guests at the royal academy of arts in central london. the show is the first major survey of pacific island art to be held in britain, and also marks the 250th anniversary of captain cook's first voyage to the pacific on the endeavour. our arts editor will gompertz has taken a look. we're used to a bit of a song and dance being made about an exhibition opening, but not quite on this scale. this is the pacific islanders' way to mark the first—ever show of their art and culture at the royal academy in london. a special event that was made even more memorable with the arrival of the duchess of sussex, for her first solo official engagement. she appeared particularly taken with this 18th—century costume of the chief mourner from the islands of tahiti. the exhibition covers around 600 years of oceanic artworks, from this centuries—old maori carving to these photographic portraits of life—casts taken in 2010. it's

we will be live in gravesend as a beluga whale is spotted

robert hall, bbc news, gravesend.ome footage of a seven—year—old girl who belted out the american national anthem this weekend to a stunned crowd at the la galaxy game against seattle. malea emma won a local competition to sing before the game. and before you watch this, i am just going to make the point that malea is not even four foot tall. # over the land of the free, and the home of the brave. cheering what about that? nearly as good as me. beat that, christian fraser. that was fantastic. very good indeed. that is all for tonight, we will see you same time tomorrow, thanks very much for watching. goodbye. there were big differences in how the day turned out weather—wise, depending on where you spent it. southern areas have the best of the brightness, in fact beautiful blue skies for this weather watcher in hastings. further north and west it could not have been more different, more cloud, some are bags of rain and a strong wind, two very different days of whether very clearly visible on our earlier satellite pictu

our reporter lauren moss is in gravesend for us.ely on the condition of the whale, because it is thousands of miles away from home. it has been spotted in the last ten minutes or so sort of between these two barges. its surfaces, disappears under the water, and then resurfaces before it disappears for some considerable time, but people asked all hoping to get some photographs of it. the families have come down with their children, but of course conservationists are also on standby, because the priority here is the whale. it is thousands of miles away from home, belugas are known to swim in the waters around the arctic, often seen in greenland, and they are often with families of whales. in a pod. this family double one must have got confused, or perhaps the weather conditions affected its ability to navigate and thatis affected its ability to navigate and that is why it has ended up here in the thames. we are not really too sure that the main issue is to make sure that the main issue is to make sure it is ok, and at the moment it do

it was first spotted yesterday feeding around barges near gravesend in kent, thousands of miles awayarctic. there have been unconfirmed reports of a sighting this morning. 0ur correspondent simon jones is in gravesend. simon, keeping an eye on any developments and some footage has been posted this morning but i understand there is some doubt over weather or not this actually was the beluga whale? yeah, shout if you can see whale behind me! it has been a bit mysterious this morning because initially the guy who first spotted it yesterday posted pictures on social media creating a bit of a frenzy down here said that a couple of his friends on the essex side of the water had spotted the whale. then another birdwatcher posted some pictures then he said believed were the whale. and then one expert told me 100%, yes, it was the whale. but the rspca have looked at the pictures and say they cannot confirm that it pictures and say they cannot confirm thatitis pictures and say they cannot confirm that it is actually the whale. we've been down here since first light and we're not alone here and

and a beluga whale has swum into the river thames near gravesend in kent. experts say it is obviously very lost and quite possibly in trouble. now, ina now, in a moment it will be time for sports day, but first a look at what else is coming up for you on bbc news. we will be live in liverpool with all the latest of elements from the labour party conference. we are also live in pennsylvania where comedian bill cosby is being sentenced for drugging and sexually assaulting a one—time friend in 2004. we assaulting a one—time friend in 200a. we can see live pictures outside the courtroom. you can see police officers waiting. we are expecting that sentencing imminently, but as usual these things are subject a little bit to change, but as soon as we see the judge seeming to start those proceedings, we will return to pennsylvania. and of course we will ta ke pennsylvania. and of course we will take a look at tomorrow's papers in oui’ take a look at tomorrow's papers in our newspaper review with rosalind own. andjim our newspaper review with rosalind own. and jim wa

it was spotted in the thames' estuary biv near gravesend estuary near gravesend in kent this afternoonthe shores of the thames. a lot of people still here this evening, hoping for a glimpse of the well and they haven't been disappointed. it is currently in that stretch of water behind me there that vote. last seen around ten minutes ago, the poor of london authority are out there to and concern the well hasn't really been moving from this area and is actually not heading out to sea but actually not heading out to sea but a lot of people here still watching hopefully not getting and their way of saying the well. us talk to you. what have you seen? ablett legault well today i saw. my first ever well. i was really pleased to see it. -- a well. i was really pleased to see it. —— a beluga well. i came down from school. not something you expected to see? deftly not an attempt. you expect to see this in the arctic but not... it is that you recite. he have your binoculars. take a look. what about you? this really interesting. the privilege. to see a creature like this, so near the home, this i

but it was spotted near gravesend in kent this afternoon.e arctic, just 24 from the centre of london. when a bird watcher on the salt marshes east of gravesend caught a glimpse of a white shape just offshore, he couldn't believe his eyes. one of the rarest of sightings. within hours, the news had spread across social media, bringing whale spotters out on to the river banks for a glimpse of the visitor. ever since i arrived, i saw a glimpse of it and it's been surfacing once every 15 or 20 minutes. seeing the beluga whale, which i've never seen, never ever imagined i would see in britain, let alone virtually in london. patrols from the port of london authority have helped to keep vessels clear and enable wildlife experts to confirm this was indeed a beluga. the advice from us is to, for the navigators particularly, to keep an extra eye out and keep their distance from the animal. last time a whale strayed into the thames back in 2006, rescuers failed to save its life. the hope tonight is that the outgoing tide will carry this unusual tourist

there's been a confirmed sighting of a beluga whale in the river thames at gravesend this lunchtime, according to the london port authority. it's been seen near the barges, where it has spent much of the past four days. the whale appears to be moving up and down a one—mile stretch of the river. now it's time for a look at the weather with alina jenkins. a fine enter the afternoon. different story further north, more clout for northern ireland and scotland, further outbreaks of rape and western isles, strong wind as well. just to get up to 50 mph, some warmth in the sunshine across central and southern england, turning cooler here to this evening and overnight. we will see outbreaks of rate slipping their way south and east to southern scotland, weakening as they do, clear skies behind, blustery showers and i had some clearer skies. tempter started to you all three celsius for southern counties. a fair amount of cloud on sunday, that will be slipping its way south and east, a cloudy day for much of an glib and wales with bright sunny spells, but rather blustery showers across northern

it‘s been seen feeding around barges at coalhouse fort, near tilbury and gravesend.m the policy team at the whale and dolphin conservation — he joins us on the line from wiltshire. thank you forjoining us. how rare is it, and what kind of conservation concerns to this present? it is incredibly rare. my colleagues and i we re incredibly rare. my colleagues and i were just looking back, and incredibly rare. my colleagues and i werejust looking back, and there have been about 20 sightings ever recorded of beluga whales. in uk waters. the last were off the coast of northumberland in 2015, a single whale off northern ireland as well. we are concerned, it is probably a lost individual. it is used to estuaries and rivers, but never on its own, and never this far south. this is the species normally found in the high arctic, around greenland, and sal barred, north of norway and the veron see, aged not be in the thames history. what would you offer as a possible explanation for this whale being so far out of its normal areas? it is a very good question, it is speculation, but

are currently no major worries over its welfare. 0ur correspondent lauren moss has been down to gravesender sam lipman. says first day we have been able to get eyes on the water and we have been able to assess its body condition and its behaviour and so far we have been relying on a shot footage. at the moment it is ok, its bodyis footage. at the moment it is ok, its body is all right, nothing immediately pressing that we are worried about. is behaving normally, it has taken a few breaths and has borne down fort deeper dives, which might be an indication it is foraging. we don't know if it is a sure and we don't know what kind of prey is managing to forage. that is what it looks like to ask at the moment, milling around in the area, holding its own against the tide so be it looks like it is something strongly and it may be feeding, which is good. these belgua whales, they usually live in the arctic, he said maybe from greenland, how has it ended up here in the river thames? it could be any number of things, it could be that it has lost track, and navigational error and taken a wrong turn

there's been a confirmed sighting of a beluga whale in the river thames at gravesend this lunchtime, of the past four days. the whale appears to be moving up and down a one—mile stretch of the river. now it's time for a look at the weather with alina jenkins. a fine enter the afternoon. different story further north, more clout for northern ireland and scotland, further outbreaks of rape and western isles, strong wind as well. just to get up to 50 mph, some warmth in the sunshine across central and southern england, turning cooler here to this evening and overnight. we will see outbreaks of rate slipping their way south and east to southern scotland, weakening as they do, clear skies behind, blustery showers and i had some clearer skies. tempter started to you all three

the rare marine mammal was initially seen near gravesend in kent yesterday afternoon. 0ur correspondentgoing along the banks of the river thames to get a glimpse of it. families with children and keen wildlife photographers. i spoke to one gentleman who had come all the way from doncaster to get a photograph. 0pportunities way from doncaster to get a photograph. opportunities are few and far between because the beluga whale is a camera shy. it is a wild animal. it has been spotted dozens of times this afternoon most recently around the back of that barge there. it breaks the surface of the water briefly and then disappears back under the water. it has been doing this on and off for the last five or six hours or so. it is causing a lot of excitement for people down here but there is a feeling of concern because this beluga whale is thousands of miles away from home and conservationists are keeping a keen eye on it hoping it will be able to find its way back to where it belongs. i am joined by sam lippman from british divers marine rescue. you've been checking on the whale. today has been

are currently no major worries over its welfare. 0ur correspondent lauren moss has been down to gravesendam lipman. it's been the first time we've been able to actually get on the water and get there ourselves, which has been really important to us because we are able to assess its body condition and his behaviour, and so far, we've been relying on snapchat footage. at the moment and it's ok. its body condition is all right. there's nothing you need to worry about and is behaving normally. it is going down for deep dives, which might be an indication it is foraging. we don't know it is for sure that we do not know what pray it is managed to forge if it is. that's what it looks like at the moment. mulling a run in one area. holding his head against the tide. looks like it's still swaying strongly in baby feeding, which is good. these beluga wales, if you say it may have come from greenland... how would it have and end up here in the river thames? that is easy to speculate... it could be something is disturbing it out in the ocean, some sort of overhead sounds that sort of pushed it in here

these pictures were shot near gravesend, this beluga was swimming near the barges. off the coast of northumberland, sightings are extremely rare, according tojulia cable, from the marine rescue, who has been giving us wants, she is saying, hopefully this one, it is a few minutes ago, those pictures, it has surfaced. they say they hope it will swim out to sea, back out to sea, we do not wa nt to sea, back out to sea, we do not want it travelling upstream in the thames, you may recall, 2006, a northern bottlenose whale got stranded in the river, despite all attem pts stranded in the river, despite all atte m pts to stranded in the river, despite all attempts to refloat it and get it back out to sea, it died, it was five metres long. there is the live shot again and there is a helicopter, you can see that shadow. there is a beluga whale in that river and we hope to catch sight of it again, and hoping nobody goes to close to disturb it. there, there we are, just to the left of that boat, a splash... has gone under again... there it is! it is performing very nicely for u