KentOnline

A woman has been escorted from a Sainsbury's store in Dartford after refusing to wear a face mask. Hear what happened when she was confronted by police in the supermarket and comment on the story to let us know what you think. The over 80s are being told not to panic if they haven't been invited for a Covid vaccine yet - we've been speaking to a leading Kent doctor. Remember trading Pokemon cards back in the day? Well the phenomenon is still going strong and one trader in Canterbury has...

Dr Ranj has been speaking to the KentOnline podcast about the importance of sticking to the Lockdown 3 rules and protecting our hospitals. The TV medic, who grew up in Medway, is seeing firsthand the impact the virus is having on the NHS. Also in today's podcast, there are calls for the government not to end the £20 per week increase to Universal Credit payments that came into effect at the start of the pandemic. It's sugar awareness week and a Kent nutritionist is urging parents to be...

KentOnline Podcast: Teenagers sentenced for Canterbury attack which left German student brain-damagedTwo teenagers have been sentenced for their part in an attack in Canterbury which left a German student brain-damaged.Daniel Ezzedine was set upon in the city centre in 2019.Hear from our reporter Sean Axtell who's been following the case at Canterbury Crown Court. Also in today's podcast, a former Kent headteacher is urging Ofsted to allow schools to 'rebuild' following the pandemic.A...

The owners of a Medway pub have spoken of the devastation caused by flooding. The Fenn Bell Inn at Hoo is also home to an animal conservation project. They were alerted to rising water in the early hours of this morning and say even firefighters couldn't stop it. Also in today's podcast, nursery school staff have been overlooked during the pandemic according to one academy head. There are calls for the government to extend a ban on landlords being able to evict tenants to avoid a spike...

Food hampers sent to low income families to help feed children while they learn from home have been criticised after pictures of the contents were shared on social media.The government has responded today saying it 'will not be tolerated' and catering companies have been ordered to improve.My Kent Family editor Lauren Abbott did a £30 shop to feed her two children - find out how she got on. Also in today's podcast - the minister in charge of the Covid vaccine roll-out has been quizzed by...

A woman from Medway who thought the government were exaggerating how serious coronavirus is, has revealed how it left her in a coma. Kelly Cooney contracted the virus in mid-December and was rushed to hospital on Christmas Day. She's spoken to the KentOnline Podcast from her hospital bed at Medway Maritime in Gillingham. Also in today's podcast, more coronavirus testing sites are opening in the county. We've been speaking to a Dover man who's spent the past 20 years researching video...

Figures given to the KentOnline Podcast show thousands more children are going into school during the third lockdown compared to the first national restrictions introduced last March.Some school heads say their staff are fearful of catching the virus and have mounting workloads as they juggle teaching in classrooms and remotely to those at home.Hear from the chief executive of an academy trust that oversees 10 primary schools in the east of the county. Also in today's podcast, the man in...

A councillor who's battling coronavirus has described the conditions in hospital from his bed. Ricky Jones is being treated at Dartford's Darent Valley where critical care is at 'full stretch' according to bosses. It comes after grim statistics revealed 50 people had died with the virus at hospitals in Kent - the highest figure in the county in a single day. Meantime, there are calls for decisions to be made sooner rather than later on whether the Kent Test will go ahead at normal this...

Paul and Oliver are back to break down the most important political stories of the week. GCSE and A-level exams have been scrapped as schools close again, but will the Kent Test be next? All seems quiet on the roads after the end of the Brexit transition period, but is it the calm before the storm? Plus, one Kent MP swipes at social media giants after Donald Trump uses platforms to stoke up the rioters who stormed Capitol Hill.

Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner has been speaking to the KentOnline Podcast about how officers in the county will deal with the new lockdown.Matthew Scott has recently criticised a counterpart in the West Midlands for saying officers should have more powers to force their way into the homes of suspected lockdown rule breakers.He also talks about why he's calling for members of the force to be higher up the Covid vaccination priority list.In today's episode you can also hear from the...

Days after it was confirmed GCSE and A-level exams will not go ahead this summer, the government has confirmed how grades will be decided.Gone is the controversial algorithm used last year with teacher assessment being used instead.In today's podcast, hear from an education law expert who has also been speaking about university students who are paying thousands to study at home.We've also been looking at children's mental health as they spend much more time in doors during lockdown this time...

It's feared the third national lockdown in England could last until March. The Prime Minister announced the measures last night in yet another bid to try and get the spread of coronavirus under control. In today's podcast, hear from Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clarke who's confident the roll out of the vaccine will help things get back to normal sooner rather than later. We've also been speaking to a student who was due to take A level exams and is now waiting to find out how he'll be graded...

It is feared we could be heading for another national lockdown as coronavirus cases continue to rise.The Prime Minister will address the nation tonight as Kent starts the year in tough tier 4 restrictions.Many schools across the county are closed - we've been speaking to a leading headteacher about the challenges of testing pupils when they re-open.Also in today's podcast, more testing facilities are opening across the county, but just how accurate are the results? We've been speaking to a...

It's feared non-essential shops in Kent could be forced to close again if coronavirus infection rates don't fall. Kent will remain in Tier 3 over Christmas and New Year - hear from the man in charge of public health in the county who says news of a new variant is concerning. Also in today's podcast, find out why a car park in Chatham has been renamed. We hear from a Syrian family who have been speaking about moving to Kent as refugees. Jason Derulo has been chatting to our sister radio...

The health secretary has issued a stark warning to the people of Kent as it was confirmed the county would remain in Tier 3. Cases of coronavirus are continuing to rise so pubs, restaurants and other leisure and hospitality venues must remain closed over Christmas. Matt Hancock urged residents to behave as if they had the virus in a bid to try and reduce infection rates. Also in today's podcast - the message from health care workers as hospitals in the county come under extreme...

Three families will still be able to get together over Christmas in Kent despite rising Covid cases.The Prime Minister has confirmed a relaxation of coronavirus restrictions for five days from next Wednesday (December 23) will go ahead.We've been chatting to shoppers in Chatham to find out what their festive plans are.Also in today's podcast, as the end of the Brexit transition period gets ever closer we've been speaking to some leading figures in the freight haulage industry.There are real...

It's a big day in the fight against coronavirus as a mass roll out of the first vaccine gets under way in Kent.Nine sites are opening in the county over the next few days so the most vulnerable patients can have the jab.It's less than two weeks since Pfizer / Biontech vaccine was approved for use in the UK - we've been speaking to Dr Jack Jacobs from Hamstreet Surgery near Ashford.Also in today's podcast, a Whitstable woman who was told she had cancer, only to find out after 18 months of...

As Brexit negotiations continue, one Kent MP says Boris Johnson should stand down if he fails to secure a deal with the EU. Could more follow in his footsteps? And opinion is split on schools in areas with high Covid-19 infection levels remaining open for the final week of term.

There are calls for some schools in Kent to close early for the Christmas break as cases of coronavirus continue to rise.Seven parts of the county are in the top 10 for the highest infection rates in England.Hear from he chair of the Kent Association of Head Teachers - you can also vote in our poll.Also in today's podcast, a Kent MP says the Prime Minister should resign if the UK doesn't leave the EU with an acceptable trade deal.We've been speaking to North Thanet's Sir Roger Gale and have...

A vulnerable patient says he fears for his life after a man he was told had tested positive for Covid-19 was moved onto the same hospital ward.Kevin Gearey has cancer and has been shielding throughout the pandemic.He was admitted to Medway Maritime in Gillingham on Friday with a chest infection and spoke to the KentOnline Podcast from his bed.Also in today's podcast, there are fears businesses in Kent aren't ready for a no deal Brexit.A food charity says demand for supplies are expected to...