KentOnline

A furniture store in Canterbury has closed suddenly with some customers claiming they've been left thousands of pounds out of pocket. Aamad Trading took over the former Wilko building in St George's Street in the city in March. Also in today's podcast, a Canterbury man living in America has described how they've prepared for Hurricane Milton. Despite being downgraded to a category 1 storm, it's causing devastation in Florida. Tents are going to be put up across Kent from today to draw attention to the dead reality of sleeping on the streets. Porchlight will be bringing the installation to places like Canterbury and Tunbridge Wells - as part of events to mark world homeless day. Two friends from Kent have launched a children's book to support emotional well-being. Mindful Bee and Friends is a collection of stories to help parents deal with issues like anxiety and stress. They're releasing it now, as so-called Covid babies start school. Perrie has been on our sister radio station kmfm chatting about new single You Go Your Way. And in sport, a meeting tonight could see former Gillingham owner Paul Scally removed as a director of the club. Current owner Brad Galinson has called for the vote - and shareholders will gather later. However, Mr Scally is adamant the club has no right to remove him from the board - and he'll fight the decision if it goes that way.

Furious residents are calling on council bosses to scrap “insane” roadworks that are set to shut four town centre streets over the next five months. More than 800 people have signed a petition describing plans for a bus contraflow system in Dover as "madness". Also in today’s podcast, an inquest has heard a teenager who died after taking too many painkillers had been prescribed the pills despite two recent overdoses on the same medication. She was given a month’s supply to manage back pain by a GP who later admitted he “should have given her less”. As we mark Baby Loss Awareness Week you can also hear from a mum who lost one of her twin boys due to a rare complication during pregnancy. She’s told the KentOnline Podcast of her grief and guilt as she expects another set of twin boys. Neighbours are angry about a car park in Ashford that’s been left “smelling like a toilet” due to foul water caused by a blocked drain. Those living nearby say they can’t even open any windows because of the overbearing pong. And we’ll have an update on a brown bear in Kent who is to undergo brain surgery today, in what will be the first operation of its kind in the UK. Two-year-old Boki, who lives at Wildwood Trust near Canterbury, was diagnosed with fluid on the brain earlier this year and the surgery is his best shot at living a normal life.

A Deal woman who bravely battled ovarian cancer, has died at the age of just 33. Emily Hubble is being remembered throughout the town as "the ultimate girl’s girl, everyone’s bestie, an amazing wife and daughter". Also in today's podcast, the government has once again delayed a decision on a new £9 billion road tunnel between Kent and Essex. We'll have to wait until next May to find out whether the Lower Thames Crossing will go ahead. We've got reaction the chief executive of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce. As fighting continues in the Middle East, we've been speaking to a Kent expert about the situation. Israel's warned people to move away from Lebanon's Mediterranean coast as their military targets Hezbollah positions. Hear from Dr Yaniv Voller, who is a Senior Lecturer in Middle East politics at University of Kent. There are fears part of Kent could become a 'no-swim zone' after a sports centre closed and concerns were raised about the quality of seawater. Council bosses say there's a chance four of the six bathing areas in Folkestone and Hythe could be rated 'poor' in 2025. We've got reaction from council leader Jim Martin. Figures seen by KentOnline show almost 27,000 people in Kent and Medway are waiting to be assessed for autism and ADHD. Included in that figure is 13,000 children as council bosses admit there's been a 'rapid increase' in demand for services. Lisa Lloyd is a mum from Larkfield who has two autistic children and has written a book about her experience. And in sport, Gillingham boss Mark Bonner has been nominated for league 2 manager of the month for September. He already won the August award after a strong start to the season.

More than 10,000 parking fines have been issued at country parks in Kent in the last year, according to figures seen by KentOnline. The data also reals how thousands of people have appealed the penalty, claiming to have legitimately paid for a ticket. Reporter Elli Hodgson joins the podcast to explain more. Also in today's episode, we're still expecting to hear a decision on whether or not the new road tunnel linking Kent and Essex will finally be built. The future of the Lower Thames Crossing is being considered by the Labour government and an announcement that was due on Friday was delayed. It's been confirmed a contraflow that's been causing delays for drivers between Whitstable and Herne Bay will be lifted later this month. Jet fans that clear fumes or smoke from the Chestfield Tunnel are being repaired - but will eventually need replacing. Work's been going on since June and it regularly causes traffic on the A299 Thanet Way. New parking restrictions could come into force of Medway City Estate, in a bid to ease congestions and improve safety. Single and double yellow lines could be painted around the site in Strood to stop HGVs parking along main routes and effectively turning two lanes into single lane traffic. We've been finding out what local traders think. A gala in Kent aimed at bringing different cultures together is returning this month for a second year. It's the brain child of an Ashford mum who wanted to celebrate the county's diversity. In sport, the Gillingham manager says his team lacked quality in their match against Crewe Alexandra at the weekend. The Gills lost 2-0 and dropped to second in the league two table. It was a mixed weekend for Kent's Invicta Dynamos in ice hockey's south division one - and in motorsport, hear from Kent's Jake Hill after he won the British Touring Car Championship. The 30-year-old from Tunbridge Wells claimed the trophy after the final race of the season at Brands Hatch yesterday.

A head teacher has defended his school’s haircut policy after a pupil was pulled out of class for having a style deemed “extreme”. Strood Academy boss Jon Richardson says the ban on skin fades is part of dress code guidelines that bring “equality and focus” to the school. Also in today’s podcast, you can hear from a Deal man who’s been embroiled in a row with Virgin Media after returning home to find workers digging a huge trench for a broadband cabinet outside his property. He says he will not give up challenging the communications giant after discovering contractors breaking down the pavement. Bosses of Kent’s biggest Pride festival have described their shock as council bosses say next year’s extravaganza cannot be held in the park it calls home. Canterbury City Council has suspended all events at the Dane John Gardens for 2025 to roll out new improvements paid for through the government’s Levelling Up fund. Maidstone’s LitFest is back for second year from this weekend – the KentOnline Podcast has spoken to one of the authors about her book. West Malling’s Rosie Hewlett explains what a scary thing it is to put a book out into the world. And in football we talk to the Gilingham boss ahead of their game away at Crewe Alexandra. They’re be looking to bounce back after their unbeaten home streak came to an end during the week.

A fatal explosion that tragically claimed the life of a mum-of-five is believed to have been triggered by gas in her kitchen An inquest has opened into the death of Charlane Burvill after she suffered burns to 95% of her body in the blast near Ashford last month. Also in today’s podcast, a dad has been jailed after telling police he was only living at a cannabis farm in Medway to “water the plants”. He was found at the five bedroom property along with more than 1,000 plants. In more drug news, a criminal gang responsible for importing class A drugs in shipments of bananas to Sheerness has been jailed for more than 90 years between them. Incredibly, it comes as a man from Scotland has also been locked up for a similar scheme – you can hear from the judge at his sentencing. Bosses in Swale have drawn up a "wish list" of leisure facilities they want to revamp as part of efforts to deal with a potential population boom. The plans are part of their strategy for sites across the borough over the next 14 years as it expects more than 44,000 extra people to move in. And you can hear from Britain’s Got Talent winner Sydnie Christmas who’s been chatting on kmfm’s breakfast show. The Gravesend singer talks about her time on the show and recording her new album.

Angry drivers say they are hundreds of pounds out of pocket after filling up their cars with what is thought to have been contaminated fuel from the same supermarket petrol station. Some customers have had to pay to have their tanks drained after after buying unleaded at station in Strood last week. Also in today’s podcast, a thug who broke a woman's nose and knocked out a tooth after she refused to hand him a can of beer greeted the length of his jail sentence by saying: “Cushty! I’ll take that!” The 36-year-old Dover man also gave a thumbs-up to his dad and sister, who were sitting in the public gallery A house builder is arguing a few metres of kerb laid three years ago is enough to say work has started on a 62-home development in Maidstone - so it doesn’t need planning permission again. It is more than 11 years since the application was first submitted and a new developer now wants to pick up where the other left off - but without the paperwork. An opening date for the highly-anticipated arrival of a new Ivy restaurant in Kent has been confirmed. The former Burton and Dorothy Perkins building in Canterbury city centre will be transformed into the swanky venue, with work currently underway. And you can hear from the Gillingham manager after disappointing night at Priestfield last night. Their unbeaten home streak came to and thanks to a one – nil defeat by Grimsby Town.

An 80-year-old widow has received an apology from a Kent hospital after her foot became infested with maggots during her stay. She’d made the discovery while being treated for kidney failure and ulcerated feet – but it was left untreated until the following day. Also in today’s podcast, a man on trial for the murder of a dad of three outside a village pub has told a jury he had only wanted to "scare off" his alleged victim. The 34-year-old is accused of grabbing a large knife from the pub kitchen before trying to diffuse the situation. There are calls for charges at a newly revamped car park on Sheppey to be slashed - to encourage more people to use it. Punters are pleased with the £70k upgrades, but say the the steep hourly rate is putting people off. You can also hear from a “slightly mad” man from Sittingbourne who’s gone all out for spooky season and transformed his home into a house of horrors. The almost annual attraction, dubbed Finches Rest Cemetery, started as a hobby for the father-of-three but has quickly grown into a well-loved visitor attraction attended by “thousands”. And could the discovery of a rare fungus block the progress of an 1,800 home development near Canterbury? It was once though to be extinct in the UK but has been found in South Blean Woods where plans for a new “village” are well underway.

A Thanet man who stabbed a bouncer and another man at a bar in Ramsgate pleaded with a judge not to send him to prison. A court was told the attack happened at Clique Bar in Ramsgate in January this year - leaving one man with multiple wounds. Also in today's podcast, Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has quit the Labour party. She's been a critic of Sir Keir Starmer for some time, but it seems the final straw was his acceptance of tens of thousands of pounds worth of free gifts from donors. Police have been given £15,000 so more officers can patrol Herne Bay as stats show it's the most dangerous part of the district. Bosses at Canterbury City Council have been told how the town centre and seafront has become a violent crime hotspot. Hear from our local democracy reporter Dan Esson. A Gravesend mum's described the terrifying moment she was told about her daughter choking on food at nursery. Three-year-old Bella had been eating some potato - and thankfully back blows by staff managed to dislodge it. Angela Chapman's now decided to raise money to buy the nursery a LifeVac. A circus performer left paralysed after breaking her back is going to be performing in Kent his week. Silke Pan fell from a trapeze in 2007 and spent seven months in hospital. She's been telling us about her remarkable return to the Big Top. A florist who's been trading in Swanley for more than 60 years is closing, as rising costs have made it impossible to continue Michelle Avery has worked at Flowerworks since she was 15 and took over the store in 2011 - she's been speaking to reporter Charlotte Phillips. And in sport, Gillingham are top of league two after another win at the weekend. They beat fellow promotion hopefuls Barrow 2-0 at Priestfield. We've got reaction from manager Mark Bonner and man of the match Armani Little.

There’s been another fatality on Kent’s roads – a motorcyclist has died following a crash involving three vehicles on the M25 near Sevenoaks. Emergency crews were called to the clockwise carriageway just before 12.30pm yesterday where a man in his 40's was pronounced dead at the scene. Also in today’s podcast, a coroner has found a Tunbridge Wells man who was in financial difficulty murdered his wife before killing himself. Their bodies were found at their home in February – it’s thought he’d strangled, stabbed and hit his victim with a hammer before taking his own life. You can also hear from a Maidstone man who’s told the KentOnline Podcast raw sewage spills across his drive every time there’s heavy rain. He says he’s been complaining to the water company since 2019 but so far nothing has been done. Two more pubs in Kent are set to close as bosses warn it’s no longer financially viable to keep them going. The venues are in the same street in the same village near Faversham and are expected to shut by the end of the year. And it’s going to be a cracking fixture in league two this weekend as top of the table Barrow make their way to Priestfield. They’re managed by Stephen Clemence who Gillingham sacked in the summer – you can hear from current boss Mark Bonner ahead of the game.

Investigations are now underway after a driver was killed in a serious crash which closed a busy route in both directions. The black vehicle was travelling on the coastbound carriageway of the A2 in the early ours of this morning when it collided with a central barrier and a bridge parapet. Also in today’s podcast, a police sergeant who stripped naked and masturbated near a play park in Chatham has been sacked. The 51-year-old admitted taking pictures of himself performing the indecent act after he “crawled” into a wooded area. A violent thug who punched his mum and ex-girlfriend has admitted his behaviour was “disgraceful”. The unemployed 24-year-old was drunk at the time of the attack in Dover and when he woke up in a police cell claimed he could not remember what he had done. A Dartford man who thought he just need a bit of a rest has had his arms and legs amputated and part of his nose has been eaten away after he developed sepsis. The father of three took a few days off work and could never could have imagined that four months later he would have lost all his limbs and be waiting for surgery to rebuild his face. And you can hear from residents who have welcomed the proposed overhaul of a leisure centre – but say while upgrades are needed it will be a shame to see the loss of the “fun bits”. The renovation of Tides Leisure Centre in Deal comes with lots of new inclusions, but would also mean the loss of the existing wave pool, flume, smaller slides and sauna room.

Angry parents living close by to a new school in Ebbsfleet have slammed the admissions policy – and say they were sold a dream they just haven’t got. They launched a petition which forced the school to change its criteria and increase its intake after it was revealed that if it was oversubscribed, other pupils would get priority over those who live nearby. Also in today’s podcast, a Herne Bay mum says she’s horrified after a child found a small blade in chips bought on a Kent pier. He’d bought the portion to share with his friends and was lucky it was spotted before someone bit into it. There are calls for bosses in Tonbridge and Malling to put an end to parking restrictions which are threatening the survival of a popular farmers’ market. Critics say the four hour limit is putting unwelcome pressure on traders and at this rate they’ll have no market left. You can also find out which KFC outlet in Kent has been ranked as one of the country’s worst when it comes to hygiene. The Colonel has responded to the claims – saying they have high standards and since the result have been working hard to get things back up to scratch. And the KentOnline Podcast has been speaking to the owners of a new family entertainment centre that’s opened in Sittingbourne. The £20,000 refurb to the old Snooker and Sports bar now includes an 18-hole neon crazy golf course, pool room and darts facilities.

A courier who ran over and killed a pensioner after failing to stop at a Give Way junction in Canterbury has been spared jail. The Middlesex woman struck Reverend Iain Taylor with her van as he crossed Station Road West while on his way to a retreat for respite from caring for his dementia-stricken wife. Also today, you can hear from a former gang member who has told the KentOnline Podcast a ban on zombie knives has come in too late. The weapons have been outlawed in a bid to reduce knife crime but there are fears it’s not enough to stop young people carrying them. A mum is urging other parents to trust their instincts when it comes to their children’s health after her three-year-old son was diagnosed with leukaemia. Lauren Russell, who runs a pub near Ashford, says she’s gone through “hell” and feared at one point that she would lose little Harley. Our reporters have also been out on the streets of Kent to find out what people really think of the rise of self-service checkouts. It follows an alleged boycott of one supermarket giant over their use of unmanned tills. And the owners of a hotel, pub and restaurant near Cranbrook feel it's “now time to move on” after turning the business around in just a year. The Royal Oak Hotel in Hawkhurst is booked through until the new year but despite it’s popularity it’s now one on the market.

It’s been revealed a controversial Park & Ride scheme which reopened under opposition this year is causing more pollution than it prevents and losing almost £30,000 a month. Council leaders have been accused of throwing money “in the bin” by continuing to run the service on the outskirts of Canterbury. Also in today’s podcast, a former businessman has appeared in court after preyed on women and children by concealing a secret camera in toilets in Rochester. He was caught red-handed by one of his victims, he said: “I’ve made a silly mistake. It was just fun." Figure seen by the KentOnline Podcast show hundreds of parents have repeatedly taken their children out of school for unauthorised holidays. It comes as education chiefs prepare to clamp down on those who regularly allow their children to skip school without permission. A “military style” operation took place in Canterbury over the weekend as hundreds of punters queued outside a tattoo and piercing shop during their flash sale. More than 300 people waited outside Drawn and Quartered in a line that snaked around neighbouring streets to get their £20 tattoo. And in football we’ll wrap up the weekend action after Gillingham secured a one – nil win over league leaders Notts County. Defender Max Ehmer says they’re keeping their heads in the game ahead of tomorrow nights Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace.

A young woman has spoken of her heartbreak after her brother stabbed their grandmother and her dog to death - before turning the knife on himself. The mum-of-three, who lives in Tunbridge Wells, says she “can never forgive” her brother but is adamant she will give her nan the send-off she deserves. Also in today’s podcast, investigations are ongoing after an explosion at a home near Ashford. The bungalow in Charing has been completely destroyed and one woman has been taken to hospital – it’s not yet known what caused it. One of Bluewater’s three original anchor stores is set to close before Christmas with a high street giant reportedly poised to take over the site. House of Fraser, which has sat in one of the three corners of the Shopping centre since it opened 25 years ago, is understood to be shutting for good on November 27. There’s a bit of mystery unravelling at an ancient Kent woodland after the discovery or porcelain dolls left scattered among the trees. The dolls, fitted with little hats and tiny shoes, have been spotted by people using the walking tracks but no-one knows how they got there. And in sport it’s clash between the top two teams of the league 2 table this weekend when Gillingham travel to take on Notts County. The hosts hold the top spot, but Gills boss Mark Bonner is confident they can build on last week’s win.

Furious residents say the demolition of historic buildings as part of a multimillion-pound film studios project should never have been allowed to happen. Contractors have already knocked down a series of lean-to structures connected to abandoned engine sheds in Ashford. Also in today’s podcast, new public artwork showing the lifelike figure of a woman submerged in a river has been branded “offensive, creepy and disturbing” – with some calling for it to be removed. It follows the installation of the controversial statue in the River Stour in Canterbury by a world-renowned underwater sculptor. A woman has avoided jail after her dog savagely attacked a dad and left him needing surgery. She’s admitted being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury after the attacked at Hersden Industrial Park. An Ashford woman says lives are being put at risk from dangerous potholes and cracks in the pavement. Furious residents have also slammed the authorities for failing to fix a single pothole while two of the worst roads were recently closed for other maintenance. And a two-year-old brown bear in Kent is to undergo pioneering brain surgery in a UK first. Boki, who lives at Wildwood Trust near Canterbury, has been suffering from seizures and recently underwent an MRI scan.

A boat owner's told the podcast how he was left stranded after vandals stole his generator and damaged the vessel. Philip Tucker had moored the boat on the River Medway in Maidstone to visit a nearby beer festival. He's calling for more patrols in the area to improve safety and has been speaking to reporter Elli Hodgson. Also on today's podcast, figures seen by KentOnline show more than 3,500 children in Kent are living temporary accommodation. Dartford has the highest rate as one in every 58 youngsters doesn't have a permanent home according to data compiled by Shelter. Hear from Deborah Garvie from the charity. We've learnt today that Sheppey's going to get a new banking hub after a number of branches there closed. HSBC, Barclays, Halifax and Natwest have all gone in Sheerness with TSB also due shut. The town wasn't initially recommended for a hub but is among 15 areas to get one. A Tunbridge Wells mum has told the podcast that new "Teen Accounts" being introduced on Instagram don't do enough to protect children. The social media platform's confirmed profiles will limit who can contact young people and what content they see. We've also got reaction from a Medway based social media consultant. The boss of a Dover gym is blaming parking chaos in the town for losing more than a third of his members in just four months. Darren Fuller owns a facility in Elizabeth Street and says customers have been left with nowhere to leave their cars. And, on the website today you can see pictures of a stunning property in Tunbridge Wells that's gone on the market. Dunorlan House has five bedrooms, a leisure complex, cinema room and views over a house.

A pub landlord could be stripped of his licence after a fight broke out in the wake of England’s Euro 2024 final defeat which left one punter with potentially life-changing injuries. The incident happened in the pub garden in Wainscott, but police say it wasn’t properly reported to them until the next day. Also in today’s podcast, a former Sturry pig farmer embroiled in a planning war after switching up his business without permission says he will defy council if it tries to shut him down. His retrospective application has been rejected, but he’s vowed to continue trading even if enforcement action is threatened. The KentOnline podcast has spoken to a woman who thought she’d be rich six months after opening a sandwich shop in Dartford but is now struggling to survive. She's told us the cost of living crisis is still affecting small businesses, with costs doubling and customer numbers falling. A garage boss on Sheppey is worried his firm’s reputation has been damaged due to a water leak saga that’s been going on for 19 months. He says he’s unfairly getting the blame for the issue, which has turned the pavement outside his business into a “dangerous joke”. And gym bosses in Herne Bay say they’re not feeling the pressure despite plans for a huge luxury health and fitness complex in the town. You can hear from some gym owners who say they’re not scared of the proposals for the new David Lloyd Leisure site – as it will attract a completely different clientele.

A mum-of-two has refused to pay a large restaurant bill because she claimed there was a hair in her meal. The Maidstone woman has appeared in court for walking out of the Wagamama and leaving the £227 tab behind. Also in today’s podcast, you can hear from a Dover refugee charity after the deaths of another eight people who were trying to cross the Channel to Kent. More than 1000 people made it to the UK over the weekend – taking the total for the year so far to more than 23,000. There’s been an outpouring of sadness in Walmer after a family run, independent garage closed after almost 100 years. The long-standing boss says it’s upsetting to see it shut, but the lease is up and the landowner wants to move on. There are fears an HMO at the site of a quirky former cafe in Canterbury could “drag the area down”. The plans for the High Street have been labelled “totally unacceptable”. And in sport, it’s back to winning ways for Gillingham who beat Tranmere Rovers at Priestfield this weekend. The KentOnline Podcast spoke to boss Mark Bonner who says he’s proud of how his squad performed, even when they went down to 10 men.

A Folkestone teenager has died after falling onto a railway line during a night out. Tom Watson, who was 18, had been out with friends last Thursday and is understood to have accidentally fallen onto the tracks at Canterbury East Station. Also in today's podcast, £6 million pound plans to build a new sea cadets base on Sheppey have been scrapped. Bosses at the site in Minster had been hoping to demolish their current buildings and replace them with two new blocks. Reporter Joe Crossley has been along to have a look. A Kent wildlife charity has joined forces with specialists in Surrey to get an MRI scan for a brown bear who's been suffering seizures . The Wildwood Trust have been looking after Boki at their wildlife park near Canterbury and say he's loved by everyone for his cheeky antics. They've been explaining how the procedure was done. We've got an incredible story of courage and determination as a blind veteran from Ramsgate prepares to compete in the Dartford half marathon this weekend. Paul Jacobs was injured while serving in Afghanistan when he was just 20. He's been speaking to Lucy Hickmott about preparing for Sunday's race. A Maidstone art trail that's been delighting families through the summer holidays is coming to an end this weekend. More than 100 Shaun the Sheep sculptures have been scattered through the town to raise money for the Heart of Kent Hospice and will all be under one roof for the next few days. Sam Lawrie's got a round-up of everything else going on in Kent this weekend. In sport, Gillingham prepare to host Tranmere Rovers at Priestfield in league two this weekend. The home side will be looking to bounce back from last Saturday's defeat to Doncaster Rovers.