Episodes
A motorcyclist has died following a crash which closed a major road in Ashford.The 22-year-old was riding a bike that hit a kerb on the A2070 last night.Also in today's episode, three teenagers have been charged with murder following the death of a man on Sheppey.Police were called to the Warden Bay Road area of Leysdown at around 7pm on Sunday following reports of an altercation involving a small group of people. Alexander Cashford, 49, died at the scene.Figures seen by the KentOnline Podcast show more animals are being attacked with weapons in Kent than anywhere else in England.32 cases w...
Three children are still being questioned by police on suspicion of murder following the death of a man on Sheppey.It's been reported the victim, who was in his 40s, suffered severe head injuries after being hit with a concrete slab in the Warden Bay Road area of Leysdown on Sunday night.Also in today's podcast, police have increased patrols in part of Maidstone following reports of motorbikes and e-bikes being ridden antisocially.People living in the Coombe Road area of Tovil have raised concerns.There are concerns the cost of parking in Rainham could put shoppers off visiting the town.Dri...
Three teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of murder following the death of a man on Sheppey.Police were called to the Warden Bay Road area of Leysdown shortly after 7pm yesterday.It had been reported that a row had broken out among a small group of people and a man was seriously injured in an attack.Also in today's podcast, a Kent mum says she's been forced to give up her career because her son has been left without a school place.Leighton, 10, from Maidstone has additional needs and hasn't been in class since the start of the year.The leader of Kent County Council says Reform UK has ...
A four-year-old boy has died after being hit by a bus outside a Kent hospital.Emergency crews rushed to the car park at the QEQM in Margate after it happened yesterday afternoon.The little boy has been named as Zaahir Jan and his mum has posted a heartbreaking tribute online.Also in today's podcast, two men have been charged with murder by detectives investigation the death of another man in Sittingbourne.He reportedly fell from a wall and collided with a vehicle after being chased in the town centre on Saturday night.A housing company's being urged to do more to support residents in Strood...
A man has told a court he's 'scared to walk the streets' after being stabbed by a homeless man in Gravesend.The victim was attacked by Gary Stephens after intervening in an argument he was having with a woman outside a Tesco store in 2022.Also in today's podcast, the leader of the opposition at Kent County Council has criticised the way Reform UK are behaving in cabinet meetings.Lib Dem councillor and leader of the opposition at KCC Antony Hook has spoken out - you can hear from him and a response from Reform's chief whip at KCC, Maxwell Harrison.A Kent MP has raised concerns about Britain'...
A man who jumped on his ex's car at traffic lights in Dover has avoided jail - despite already being banned from contacting her.A court was told the 32-year-old saw her by chance in the town and smashed the windscreen in June.Also in today's podcast, a Folkestone man whose mum and step-dad are being held in Iran says they've been allowed to make their first call home.Lindsay and Craig Foreman were detained on suspicion of espionage while on a motorbike tour around the world.The boss of a Kent charity that trains dogs for children with Type 1 diabetes has told us they're having to pause the ...
A family have been forced to leave a Kent holiday park in the middle of the night after finding bugs on their bedding.The Allen's had booked a five-night stay at Parkdean Resorts in St Margaret’s Bay, near Dover - hear from reporter Oliver Leonard who has been following the story.Also in today's podcast, a Margate mum, who's battling breast cancer, says she's stuck in a nightmare legal battle to evict a tenant from her former family home.Kelly Eastland needs £60,000 to pay for pioneering treatment in Germany. She's been explaining what has happened over the past few months.Police have launc...
Flowers have been left at the scene of a crash in Herne Bay following the death of a motorcyclist.The man in his 20s was riding along Reculver Road when he was involved in a collision near the junction with Terminus Drive in the early hours of Saturday.Also in today's podcast, an MP has raised concerns about plans for a housing development on land in Rainham.An application for hundreds of homes on an orchard off Pump Lane was previously rejected - but now the land's been included in the council's Local Plan.Hear from Naushabah Khan who has joined residents at a protest.A Medway man with inc...
A woman whose mum is being treated at Medway Maritime Hospital has raised concerns about a mice infestation on the ward.82-year-old Christine Dobbs was reluctantly admitted after suffering a fall at home, but her stay has been marred by what her family says is a “shocking” rodent problem.Hear from Christine's daughter, we have also got a response from the hospital.Also in today's podcast, parents in Kent are being urged to make sure their children are fully vaccinated as levels of measles remain high.145 cases in England have been detected this month - and it's said to be spreading fast in ...
A landlord's been left with a £60,000 repair bill after three of his properties were turned into cannabis factories.Drugs were found being grown at homes owned by Fergus Wilson in Ashford, Aylesford and Boughton Monchelsea near Maidstone. Reporter James Pallant has been covering the story and joins the podcast.Also on today's episode, a former Kent MP hasn't ruled out trying to win back his seat - but for a different party.Adam Holloway has confirmed he's left the Conservatives and joined Reform. He represented Gravesham for 19 years but lost his seat to Labour at the last election.A Medway...
A young woman's told us she's scared to walk in Maidstone town centre alone after being victim of a violent robbery.Mercie Doe was attacked as she walked near the Archbishop's Palace in August last year, she was thrown to the ground and her bag was stolen.Mercie has bravely spoken about her ordeal and told the podcast what she thinks should be done to improve safety for women and girls.Also in today's podcast, a coroner's criticised the training and lack of basic medical kit provided by a private ambulance firm - after a teenager died at Margate's Dreamland.A mum from Sevenoaks has told the...
Private security guards have been brought in to help tackle anti-social behaviour in Herne Bay.A company called Akon has been given a six-week contract to support council enforcement teams and police. It's costing £8,500 and comes after concerns about gangs of young people "terrorising" the town.Also in today's podcast, organisers of a free princess-themed event in Maidstone have been forced to cancel it due to council charges.Snow Princess Parties holds an annual parade in Brenchley Gardens - where youngsters can meet their favourite fairytale and Disney characters.Plans to help families w...
A cafe in Dover has been forced to close until further notice after a fire ripped through the building.Bosses say they're "heartbroken" after crews were called to tackle the blaze in the early hours of yesterday.Also in today's podcast, fans have been celebrating England's win in the final of the Women's Euros.A mural has been unveiled of Kent striker Alessia Russo at her former club ahead of a victory parade by the Lionesses.We have been hearing from a group that runs cooking sessions for families in Maidstone as we approach the end of kmfm's Tonnes of Tins campaign.Celebration Church will...
Hygiene inspectors have found “multiple risks to food safety” at a popular Indian takeaway - including a mouldy freezer and a bucket of raw chicken being stored at room temperature.The restaurant in Cliftonville has hundreds of five-star ratings on food delivery app JustEat, but Thanet District Council officers found its facilities in a shocking state.Also in today’s podcast, a Sheppey woman is calling for CCTV to be installed at an accident blackspot after three of her cars were written off in crashes.In the last 16 years of living in Marine Parade, £12,000 of damage has been done to Aman...
A mum has been granted permission to convert her house into a children’s home – despite facing huge opposition.Vanessa Idada’s application to transform the five-bed property in Aylesham was approved unanimously at a Dover District Council planning committee meeting.Also in today’s podcast, we’ve heard from the RSPCA ahead of what’s expected to be a busy summer in Kent, with the charity saying they often see a spike in animal cruelty cases this time of year. It follows figures released earlier this month which showed there were 930 reports in June, July and August 2024 A Kent County Councill...
A man in his 50s has died following an incident which shut part of the M2.Police were called to a section of the busy motorway between Strood and Chatham just before 5 this morning. Also in today's podcast, a plumber who had been out drinking ended up in a police chase after accepting a lift home in a stolen Asda delivery van - which was later used to ram a police car.He’d drunk more than usual when he got into the vehicle, which had been stolen by his friend after it was left unattended during a delivery to a customer in Gillingham. A family has spoken of their disabled dad’s devastation a...
A mum housed in a two-bed council home with six of her children says “pigs in a sty live more comfortably” than her family.Rebecca Waller is desperate to be moved somewhere bigger than the “claustrophobic” semi-detached property in Faversham.Also in today’s podcast, there's been an increase in the number of Kent police officers who are being signed off work for mental health reasons.Figures show there were 320 last year, which is a five percent increase on the year before – you can hear from the Kent Police Federation chair about the statistics. A charity boss fears there could be a rise in...
The family of a 30-year-old battling a cancer so “horrific” that medical professionals cried while performing radiotherapy is pleading for help with more treatment.Chatham man Alex Able is believed to be the only adult ever recorded in the UK to be diagnosed with the very rare and aggressive Rhabdoid tumour and is now in a race against the clock.Also in today’s podcast, you can hear from a Kent campaigner who agrees the system for regulating water companies should be overhauled and Ofwat replaced. It’s after a landmark review of the sector outlined 88 recommendations to the government to tu...
It’s understood plans for a £30 million hotel at a country park have been quietly dropped after the intended operator pulled out.The controversial scheme at Betteshanger, near Deal, was met with huge opposition and took two years to get planning permission.Also in today’s podcast, the family of a sub-postmistress convicted of stealing thousands from the branch will be given the chance to clear her name after “an abuse of process”.Pat Owen was found guilty of theft from the Broad Oak Post Office in Sturry, near Canterbury, in 1998, despite denying any involvement in a £6,000 shortfall in its...
The body of a much-loved son has been found in woodland, over a week after he was reported missing.The 32-year-old hadn’t been seen since he was spotted in Hawkhurst last Tuesday – it comes just a day after his family made an appeal for information. Also in today’s podcast, the number of children getting an MMR jab in Kent must increase to prevent a measles outbreak, the county’s director of public health has warned.The percentage of youngsters in both Kent and Medway coming forward for immunisation has slumped over the last few years - falling well below the targets needed to eradicate the...
A restaurant boss has been hauled before a court after failing to remove an illegal dining enclosure built without planning permission outside his seafront eatery.The owners of A La Turka in Herne Bay has admitted two offences relating to the structure - which continues to stand more than three years after he was ordered to take it down. Also in today’s podcast, an inquiry into the crimes of David Fuller has concluded the offences carried out by the necrophiliac “could happen again”.David Fuller sexually abused the bodies of more than 100 women and girls in hospital mortuaries and is alread...
A driver has called a parking firm “disgusting” after he was wrongfully issued a £100 fine for overstaying.He’d left his car at the multi-storey in Maidstone on two separate occasions, days apart, and paid each time but was baffled when a hefty bill arrived claiming he had parked there for six days.Also in today’s podcast, it’s been revealed the railway crossing where an Amazon delivery driver died when his van was hit by a train has a history of near misses. You can hear from a local councillor who says safety improvements must be made to stop similar incidents happening in the future. The...
A Kent man who had the privilege of travelling with a megastar for one of the biggest global events has been reliving the memories of Live Aid 40-years on. You can hear from broadcaster Steve Blacknell who flew on Concorde with Phil Collins as the singer jetted from the London show to Philadelphia in July 1985. Also on today’s podcast, investigations are underway after an Amazon delivery driver died following a collision involving a train near Sittingbourne. Rail services had to be suspended due to the crash in Teynham – one of our reporters has been at the scene. You can also hear from a M...
A huge fire's broken out at an industrial estate in Strood - with smoke visible from miles away.Crews were called to the Viridor recycling centre on the Medway City Estate just before six this morning. Hear from a reporter at the scene and a man who works nearby.Also in today's podcast, a hosepipe ban has been announced for a large part of Kent as the hot weather puts pressure on supplies.South East Water say in recent weeks demand has increased to record levels for this time of year. We've been hearing from the Water Supply Director at the company.A car salesman has told us he could be for...
Podcast: Police officer seen "bleeding" during lengthy stand-off at house in James Street, Sheerness
A police officer was seen “bleeding” after coming out of a house before a lengthy stand-off at a property.At least nine police vehicles were called to the property in Sheerness after two officers were reportedly assaulted.Also in today’s podcast, businesses and residents at the centre of everyday delays on a historic bridge are calling for a solution.You can hear from residents who say getting stuck at a standstill waiting to cross Yalding Town Bridge has been a challenge for the last 15 years. Volunteers behind a new “social supermarket” aimed at tackling poverty stigma and reducing relian...
More details have emerged about a man who was shot by police in a village near MaidstoneFootage from body-worn cameras shows he was wielding a chainsaw and wearing a gas mask – and had what officers thought was an improvised explosive device. Also in today’s podcast, a mum whose son suffered heat exhaustion at school as temperatures hit 32 degrees says making pupils wear trousers during a heatwave is “inhumane”.The 12-year-old has to collected from school as he felt “dizzy and unwell” on what was the hottest day of the year so far.There’s also a warning for local traders who have been told ...
A man has been seriously injured after being shot by police at an address near Maidstone.Kent Police have confirmed they were in Hollingbourne last night to make an arrest when a firearm was discharged.The Independent Office for Police Conduct has confirmed it is investigation.Also in today's podcast, staff at a Kent animal sanctuary say they are shocked and heartbroken over the theft of one of their goats.Taco had only been at Buttercups for just over 24 hours when he was taken.We've been getting an update from the boss behind the restoration of the Leas Lift in Folkestone.The historic lan...
A Kent woman says she’s been forced back into homelessness and is “living out of carrier bags” after being “kicked out” of her makeshift home.Kelly Cardwell said her life was finally getting back on track after a year of sofa surfing when she found a converted garage room to rent – but council have told her she has to leave. Also in today’s podcast, we've been hearing from a Kent charity, on how to spot the subtle signs of alcohol dependency in the work place.It's a new campaign from the Kenward Trust in Yalding - which will feature real life stories from people who alcohol use impacted the...
A Ramsgate man's facing life in prison after being found guilty of murdering his baby daughter.A court heard Thomas Holford, 25, of Wallwood Road had smoked cannabis in the hours before shaking five week old Everleigh Stroud, and leaving her with a catastrophic brain injury.Also in today's podcast, the East Thanet MP is calling for more to be done in future to prevent a repeat of trouble seen in Broadstairs.Fights broke out on the beach, local shops were targeted and a restaurant smashed up around a fortnight ago. We've been speaking to Polly Billington who is holding a public meeting.Plans...
A woman aged in her 20s has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving and causing death by dangerous driving after a motorcyclist was killed in a crash.Police say it happened as a black Ford Fiesta and a black BMW X5 were travelling south along Stone Street last night.Also in today’s podcast, residents are worried plans for 750 homes will add to the traffic problems already plaguing a town.Developers have asked residents in Lower Rainham about a possible development on land off Pump Lane, recently included for housing in Medway Council’s draft Local Plan.Wetherspoon bosses have defended r...