KentOnline

Crash investigators want to hear from anyone who saw a lorry that overturned on a slip-road on the M20 causing seriously delays.

It happened on the coastbound exit at junction 9 yesterday afternoon closing the motorway for more than 12 hours.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent landlord accused of assaulting and threatening a council worker has had his trial delayed for the 13th time.

Fergus Wilson is alleged to have got in a confrontation with the employee in Maidstone four years ago but his hearing has suffered a series of set backs.

The man sent in by Reform UK to head up the so-called DOGE team, examining expenses at Kent County Council, has announced he's stepping down.

Nathaniel Fried will leave the role after Reform Chairman Zia Yusuf also said he was resigning.

Senior bosses at two water companies that supply homes in Kent have been told they won't be paid bonuses.

It'll impact Thames and Southern Water under new rules for firms that failed to meet environmental or consumer standards.

People living in a Margate tower block say their service charge has gone up, but the building is being left to rot.

Arlington House is an 18 storey property containing more than 140 flats next to Dreamland on the seafront. Hear from our local democracy reporter Dan Esson.

New research from the NSPCC shows the majority of parents here in the South East believe they had a safer, easier and better childhood than their children.

More than half said they wished they had the chance to play with their children more, but said they came up against barrier like cost of living.

Kent's biggest Pride event happens this weekend - but it's going to be in a different venue.

The Dane John Gardens in Canterbury can't be used because work's taking place to give them a facelift. We've been chatting to one of the organisers.

And in sport, Maidstone's Alessia Russo has been named in the England squad for this summer's Euros.

The Lionesses will be trying to defend their title in Switzerland.

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A new no-fly zone has been put in place over a famous shipwreck off the Kent coast.

Pilots are banned from going over the remains of the SS Richard Montgomery which sunk off Sheerness during the second world war. Hear from reporter Joe Crossley who has been following the story.

Also in today's podcast, a petition has been launched calling for the Gravesend to Tilbury ferry service to be reinstated.

It's not run for more than 12 months, after local authorities in Essex and Kent pulled their funding.

It's been revealed people affected by a fire at a block of flats in Dover could be out of their homes for many more months.

Conqueror House, in Crabble Hill, caught alight over Easter when a blaze started in the bin storage. We've been chatting to councillor James Defriend and have an update from Town and Country Housing who own the property.

Meantime, a Margate woman has described the horror of watching a fire rip through her home.

Jane Moore's house in Norfolk Road in Cliftonville was severely damaged in April.

A Kent woman has received an apology from British Gas after receiving a bill for almost £30,000 for just one day's use.

Janine Duffel from South Darenth had previously been paying around £53 per month. She's told us about the moment the bill turned up.

And, Kent's Big Cat Sanctuary has celebrated 25 years of conservation.

Part of the celebrations included the reveal of a statue of the sanctuary's founder Peter Sampson and a rescued tiger cub.

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Two men have been charged with murder, following a crash near Dartford that killed a four-year-old boy.

Two Ford Rangers collided on New Barn Road in Southfleet on Sunday night a 24-year-old man remains in hospital in a critical condition.

Reporter Davina Jethwa is on the podcast with the very latest.

Also in today's episode, people living on an estate in Greenhithe fear someone will be seriously hurt following a spate of catapult attacks.

A woman and child in a car were targeted at St Clements Lakes over the weekend and wildlife has also been killed.

Hear from a resident and we've got a statement from police.

A new campaign is being launched in to help young people across the county deal with violent situations.

Clock it, Check it, Change it is an initiative from Kent and Medway's Violence Reduction Unit.

There's going to be a review of a controversial decision to bring in new parking charges in Deal and Sandwich.

Traders raised concerns the increase of nearly 40% at some sites would kill local businesses.

It would have seen long-stay charges jump from £10.80 to £15 and our reporter Sam Lennon has been getting reaction from a local councillor.

A campaign's started in Kent to try and encourage more women to get involved in football coaching.

Research shows that 4 in 5 mums don't have any involvement in their children's sports clubs - however, more than a third want to give it a go.

We've been chatting to the club development manager and one of the coaches at Faversham Strike Force FC.

And in sport, England have been knocked out of the Women's National League following a 2-1 loss to Spain.

Maidstone's Alessia Russo scored the only goal for the Lionesses in the first half, before the hosts came from behind to secure the win.

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A mum-of-six from Folkestone who died suddenly at the age of just 36 has been described as 'very loved' and a 'free spirit'.

Tributes have been paid to Sarah-Jane Clarke after she suffered a cardiac arrest at her home.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent man who killed his wife and tried to use his son to clear his name has been sentenced to more time behind bars.

Andrew Griggs from Deal murdered Debbie when she was three months pregnant in 1999.

Union bosses have told us staff at Kent County Council are worried about job cuts as experts start analysing how tax-payer's money is spent.

Reform UK say the Elon Musk style task-force will make sure there's no 'wasteful spending' at county hall.

As we mark Volunteers Week, a Kent charity is looking for young people to become mental health ambassadors.

East Kent Mind are offering training to help equip them with the tools they need to give advice and guidance to those who might be struggling.

Bosses in Medway have gathered outside the council building to raise the Pride flag.

It'll fly at Gun Wharf for the whole month as they look to celebrate diversity and inclusion.

And in sport, bosses at Gillingham say they are hoping to have an update soon on three players who were offered new contracts at the end of last season.

Euan Williams, Conor Masterson and Max Clark have been given the chance to sign fresh terms at Priestfield.

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Tributes have been paid to a young girl who died in the River Thames near Gravesend.

She's been named on social media as Bia and described as a 'beautiful angel'.

Emergency crews, including the RNLI, had been called to the river near Royal Terrace Pier just before 2pm on Friday after receiving reports of two children going into the water.

Also in today's podcast, Reform UK's first UK DOGE team will visit Kent County Council today.

The Elon Musk inspired Department of Government Efficiency taskforce is designed to identify and cut wasteful spending.

We're being urged to be aware of the dangers of wildfires in Kent.

Kent Fire and Rescue have introduced a new warning system this year. Alan Standing is a group manager at the services and has been explaining how it works.

Kent retailers are welcoming a government ban on disposable vapes which has come into force.

Under new rules, it's now illegal for businesses to supply any single use devices, including those which are nicotine free. Hear from Mike Cameron who is the co-founder of Smoko in Tunbridge Wells, and Operations manager James Whiddett from Kent Trading Standards.

It's been revealed the cost of last year's elections for Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner cost taxpayers £88,000.

With voter turnout lower than previous years, it means the cost was £11.62 per vote.

And in sport, there's been mixed reaction to Gillingham's decision to scrap their traditional matchday programmes.

The club say they've chosen to stop publication because sales have dropped and it no longer makes financial sense.

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Armed police have been called after a man was seen staggering across a street “covered in blood”.

The firearms officers remain in Cornwall Gardens in Canterbury following a suspected stabbing just this morning.

Also in today’s podcast, police have managed to recover a second memorial plaque that was stolen from a Kent churchyard.

It’s after two metal plaques listing the names of men who died in the First World War were taken from a churchyard in Chatham last week.

A top Indian restaurant could have its licence stripped after a decade of hiring illegal workers on little to no pay.

Owners of Tenterden’s Badsha Indian Cuisine are accused of exercising a flagrant “disregard for immigration law” after racking up fines worth £120,000.

You can hear from elderly residents of a retirement complex in Ashford who say they face the “barbaric and inhumane” upheaval of being moved out of their homes and into temporary accommodation for two years.

Council bosses say they’re replacing the “outdated” site but the tenants say they’re worried about being “scattered” to various parts of the borough. 

And we’ve spoken to the trustee of a Kent charity that's holding a celebrity football match in Maidstone this weekend 

kmfm Breakfast presenter Rob Wills is taking part in the game between Rochester City and a team of ex-pros to raise money for My Shining Star. 

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A pub landlord has stepped down from his role after a barmaid was overheard warning customers to ditch drugs moments before police arrived with sniffer dogs.

It happened while two undercover officers were in the bar in Sandgate, during a covert operation targeting drug use in pubs and bars. 

Also in today’s podcast, a court has heard a drunken clubber punched a taxi driver eight times in the face after she refused to pay for her £8 ride home.

The 41-year-old, who is originally from Russia, had been on a night out in Maidstone and was said to be “aggressive from the off” when she jumped into the cab. 

A group of young people have been seen running amok at a derelict secondary school just days after a suspicious fire at the building.

Firefighters have tackled a spate of suspected arson attacks at St John Fisher School in Chatham – it’s led to calls for its demolition to take place sooner. 

Villagers fear there are “dark and depressing times ahead” after plans for a controversial 1,350-home estate were officially submitted.

School facilities are also lined up for land in Chestfield. 

And an animal sanctuary has announced the birth of a snow leopard cub.

She’s been nicknamed “Little Lady” and was born at The Big Cat Sanctuary  – you can hear from one of her carers. 

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A petition has been set up by people living on an estate near Gravesend to try and get rid of the management firm.

Residents of Springhead Parkway claim their bills have gone up, but the area has gone downhill. Hear from a couple living there and the local MP who is supporting them.

Also in today's podcast, life jackets have been delivered to children at a school in east Kent in memory of a little boy who died after falling into a river during a family day out.

Six-year-old Lucas Dobson had tried to climb onto a boat on the River Stour at Sandwich in August 2019.

A safety campaign set up in his name has taken kit to pupils in Ash.

Thames Water, which covers parts of north Kent, has been fined nearly £123 million by regulator Ofwat.

The biggest ever penalty comes after investigations found the firm caused an "unacceptable impact on the environment".

Meantime, campaigners are calling for water testing to be carried out at Kent's swimming spots all year round.

Last week we told you how experts will monitor the levels of bacteria at the coast during the summer season. Hear from a member of Surfers Against Sewage.

We've got an update on a story we brought to you on the podcast earlier this month.

You'll be pleased to know a Strood man who'd waited four years for a dropped kerb to be installed outside his home, has finally had the work done.

And in sport, if you head to the sports pages of KentOnline you can read the memories of some former Gillingham players 25 years after they were promoted to the now Championship.

The side beat Wigan Athletic at Wembley in the play-off final.

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A women's cup final in Maidstone has been abandoned after Palestine flags were reportedly waved in the crowd.

Clapton CFC were taking on Dulwich Hamlet Reserves in the London and South East Regional Women's Football League Trophy final at the Gallagher Stadium.

Also in today's podcast, firefighters are expected to stay at the scene of a huge fire in Gravesend for the next couple of days.

Crews were called to the London Scrap Terminal on Crete Hall Road in the early hours of Monday where around 5,000 tonnes of scrap metal is thought to have caught alight.

As events to mark the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo continue, it's been revealed how Sheppey played a vital role.

Thousands of Allied troops were rescued by Little Ships from French beaches during the Second World War. Those ships gathered in Sheerness before heading to Ramsgate and then Dunkirk.

Hear from Jenny Hurkett who is founder of the Bluetown Heritage Museum in Sheerness.

We've also been hearing about the role of the RNLI during the operation.

A group in Folkstone which connects the profoundly disabled with the gifted and talented is being recognised with a King's Award for Voluntary Service.

Shepway Spectrum Arts runs inclusive music and arts sessions for people of all abilities. Kate's been chatting to founder Georgina Cartledge.

In sport, Emma Raducanu says she's "proud" of overcoming illness to reach the second round of the French Open.

And, Kent boxer Moses Itauma has delivered another top performance to see off American Mike Balogun.

The 20-year-old heavyweight from Chatham claimed a Technical Knockout during the second round of the match in Glasgow.

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A man who harassed his neighbours for almost three years after wrongly accusing them of vandalising his car has appeared in court. 

He claimed he had video footage of  the couple committing the criminal offence, but when police investigated they identified a different suspect. 

Also in today’s podcast, a court has heard a mother and her two children were left terrified when a burglar armed with a large knife kicked down the door to their home.

A 29-year-old was later arrested when he was picked out of a police line-up – he’s been sent to prison. 

Residents on a new-build estate who have been stuck with a “nightmare” internet provider are still worried after the housing developer announced the sale of its broadband service.

The area has its own broadband network that previously only provider could access – but it’s hoped a £100 million new deal will make the market more competitive. 

The owner of a struggling burger van wants to reassure customers he has cleaned up his act – after receiving a damning food hygiene rating.

The Smash Burger in Folkestone received a zero-star score following an inspection in March.

And in football, you can hear from the Gillingham manager who says he’s looking to cut down the squad ahead of next season. 

It comes after the signing of Bristol City striker Seb Palmer-Houlden on a three year deal. 

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