KentOnline

A Walderslade man has been told he faces going to prison for an attack which has left a firefighter in a coma. It happened when the pair met at a pub in Rochester High Street two years ago. Hear from our reporter at Maidstone Crown Court. Also in today's podcast, a report has raised concerns there aren't enough midwives at East Kent Hospitals Trust to keep women and babies safe. We've been speaking to the Care Quality Commission about their findings. At the end of Baby Loss Awareness Week a...

GP surgeries are going to be rated on league tables as part of plans to improve services. The government has also announced millions of pounds aimed at improving access to doctors - although practices which don't provide an “appropriate” level of face-to-face appointments will not be eligible for the new funding. Hear from our resident health expert Dr Julian Spinks on the demands facing GPs. Meantime, a campaign is under way to try and reduce the amount of abuse being suffered by nurses and...

Insulate Britain protesters have been arrested after blocking the M25 near the Dartford Crossing. Police were called to two demonstrations on the Essex side earlier this morning and detained 35 people. Hear from a retired GP who was among those to glue their hands to the carriageway. Also in today's podcast, a Kent MP has suggested fracking could be used to ease the current energy crisis. Thanet's Craig Mackinlay wants the UK to start exploring it as an option again. Mark Hood is a Green...

A mum from Gravesend has died just months after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Nicola Biddiscombe was told she had the disease while pregnant with her third child. Her family had been raising money in the hope she could get a potentially life-extending drug that is only available in America. Also in today's podcast, a no-swim zone remains in place at 14 beaches in Thanet after waste water leaked into the sea. There are calls for Southern Water to do more. A...

Tributes had been paid after four men died in a crash on a country lane in Headcorn. The car they were in hit a tree after coming off Lenham Road in the early hours of yesterday morning - hear from our reporter who's been to the scene. Also in today's podcast, teachers have been praised for the work they have done during the pandemic. We were at the Kent Teacher of the Year awards and have spoken to some of those who were honoured. Hundreds of pink and blue umbrellas have been suspended from...

In today's podcast, thousands of people in Kent have been urged to boil their tap water after supplies were contaminated with E. coli. Our reporter, Oliver Kemp, has the details. Also today, we hear from campaigners who have held a protest against plans for thousands of new homes in Medway. A Kent homelessness charity has told the Kent Online podcast that thousands of households in the county are in danger of becoming homeless this winter. A new cinema is opening in Romney Marsh...

A man has been taken to a London hospital following a stabbing in Chatham. Our reporter Alex Langridge has been at the scene. A 15-year-old girl from Canterbury reported missing along with her cousin who's 16 and from London, has been found. The pair were found at an address in Scotland. A protest about house building in Medway is due to take place outside a council meeting tonight. People aren't happy about the possibility of homes going on the site of Chatham Docks. People living...

A man who posted a racist video on Facebook following England's defeat to Italy in the final of Euro 2020 has walked free from court. 50-year-old Bradford Pretty from Guildhall Street launched into a rant following the penalty shootout at Wembley in July. Hear what he said at the time and his reaction outside court. Also in today's podcast, there's a warning not to go into the sea at more than a dozen beaches in Kent after a waste water leak. The leader of Thanet Council has spoken out...

The Home Secretary has announced an independent inquiry into "systematic failures" within policing following Sarah Everard's murder. The 33-year-old was kidnapped by a serving Met Police officer from Deal who is now serving a whole life term. Priti Patel has been speaking at the Conservative party conference. Hear what she had to say and find out from Kent's police and crime commissioner how £750,000 will be spent on keeping women safe in the county. Also in today's podcast, the mum of a...

A woman has been filmed pleading with Insulate Britain protesters to let her get to see her sick mother in hospital in Canterbury. The footage, obtained by LBC, shows the tearful lady desperately trying to get through traffic after the blocked the Blackwall Tunnel. Campaigners have caused disruption for the fourth week in a row, with some again gluing their hands to the tarmac. Also in today's podcast, the head of the Metropolitan Police says she won't be quitting following the sentencing...

A nursery in Ashford has been closed following the death of a child. Ofsted has suspended the registration of Jelly Beans Day Nursery in the Kingsnorth part of town while an investigation is carried out. Reporter Rhys Griffiths has the details on what we know so far. Also in today's podcast, you can hear details on what the Met Police are promising to do to improve women's safety after one of their former officers was told he'll never be released from prison. Wayne Couzens from Deal was off...

The man who murdered Sarah Everard while serving as a Metropolitan police officer will spend the rest of his life in prison. Wayne Couzens from Deal has been handed a whole life order by a judge at the Old Bailey. The 48-year-old was off duty when he falsely arrested Sarah before driving 80 miles to Kent where he raped and killed her. Hear from our reporter who has been covering the sentencing hearing today. You can also listen to the moment Couzens was questioned at his home about...

Former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens 'arrested' Sarah Everard before murdering her, a court has been told. The 48-year-old from Deal, who was a serving officer at the time, is being sentenced at the Old Bailey. 33-year-old Sarah disappeared while walking home in south London in March. Her body was found in woodland near Ashford a week later. Couzens admitted kidnap, rape and murder and two previous hearings. This is the first time detail about the killing has been revealed. Hear...

Southeastern, the rail operator which covers Kent, has been stripped of its franchise. Transport secretary Grant Shapps made the announcement in a series of tweets this morning saying the government will take over the running of services instead. Find out why it has happened and what it means for passengers and staff. Also in today's podcast, we have the latest on the fuel situation in Kent as many drivers still struggle to fill their vehicles. We've been speaking to a haulier and someone...

A number of petrol stations in Kent have run dry as drivers continue to panic buy fuel, despite being assured there is not a shortage. The problem is with the number of HGV drivers available to get deliveries to forecourts. BP warned last Thursday night that some of their sites may have to close - since then, drivers have been trying to stock up, leading to long queues at garages and delays on the roads. On today's podcast, hear how taxi drivers in Medway have been affected. We've also...

Two stories are dominating the news in Kent today - protesters blockading the Port of Dover and drivers panic buying petrol. In today's podcast hear why Insulate Britain are still blocking roads in the county despite a warning they could go to jail. We've also been hearing from people stuck in the delays and getting reaction from South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay. Meantime, there have been long queues at petrol stations across the county as some struggle to get supplies of fuel. It's...

A vigil is going to take place in Kent in memory of a teacher who police believe may have been murdered as she made a five minute journey to meet a friend. Sabina Nessa is thought to have been killed in a park in Kidbrooke Village last Friday night - the 28-year-old's body was found near a community centre the following day. Naomi Gale from Margate is encouraging women to gather in the town at the same time a similar vigil is held in south-east London. Also in today's podcast, drivers on...

Southeastern has launched an investigation following claims an employee ignored a woman having an epileptic seizure on a train. A video has been posted on Instagram by the woman who confronted the worker after recovering. Also in today's podcast, climate change protesters who cause disruption on the M25 could now face a prison sentence. National Highways has been granted an injunction against Insulate Britain who've blockaded the motorway at Dartford and Swanley in recent...

People living in Seasalter have hit a nerve with those on Sheppey after making a jibe at the island. Residents claims plans to expand a holiday park with more than 90 new mobile homes would make the seaside village near Whitstable 'become like Sheppey'. That's not gone down well with people who call the 'sunkissed isle' home - including our reporter John Nurden. Hear what he had to say. Also in today's podcast, a Kent woman's spoken about being groomed online when she was barely a teenager....

Twelve people have been arrested as they attempted to block part of the M25 in Kent. Insulate Britain had warned they were planning to cause more disruption as part of their climate change protest. They blocked the motorway on three days last week leading to hours of delays for frustrated drivers and now London's Mayor has had his say. Also on today's podcast, a woman who received abuse online after being confused for a criminal who has the same name has spoken about the impact it's had on...