KentOnline

Maidstone United are through to the last 16 of the FA Cup after an incredible 2-1 win over Championship side Ipswich Town at the weekend.

Hear from fans and manager George Elokobi on an historic day at Portman Road.

Also in today's podcast, campaigners say the closure of Kent's libraries could still be on the cards despite a u-turn from the council.

Last week we told you how sites could be shut in a bid to save money before bosses backtracked on that idea. However,  some still fear for the future of Kent's libraries - we've been speaking to Hannah Temple who is the Green Party candidate for Faversham and Mid Kent.

The Dover MP is calling for a COP style system to deal with global migration.

Natalie Ephicke's been speaking on the new Kent Politics Podcast on how to stop asylum seekers in small boats from crossing the Channel.

A Kent campaigner's told the KentOnline podcast the ban on disposable vapes is "long overdue".

Rishi Sunak's announcing a new law which will also restrict some flavours of e-cigarettes, and make the packaging less appealing to children. We've got reaction from  Lib Dem councillor Tony Harwood.

Drivers say 'ridiculously high' speed bumps at Canterbury Retail Park are damaging their cars.

They were installed outside Curry's last month to slow people down.

A grieving dad from Medway had labelled parking enforcement bosses 'heartless' after they refused to rescind his fine - despite being told his daughter had just died.

Derek Webb was given a penalty notice after accidentally parking on double yellow lines for 10 minutes at the Gillingham Business Park.

And in sport, Gillingham's Head Coach Stephen Clemence says too many opportunities were wasted in their 2-1 defeat against MK Dons.

A Chatham mum who lives with her two-year-old son says they have had no heating in their flat since October.

Fiona Ferris says she's contacted housing group Orbit more than ten times but it's still not been fixed.  Hear what Fiona has had to say, we also have a comment from Orbit.

Also in today's podcast, a former gang member from Kent says a ban on zombie knives and machetes doesn't go far enough.

Yesterday the government announced that from September it'll be illegal to possess, sell, manufacture or move the weapons around.

A video of a Gillingham footballer appearing to encourage racism has been leaked online.

Defender Remeao Hutton is filmed topless introducing himself to his teammates after signing for the club earlier this month.

Sam Lawrie from What's On has a roundup of everything going on in Kent this weekend.

In sport,  it's a massive weekend for Maidstone United who're in fourth round action in the FA Cup.

The National League South side are travelling to take on Ipswich Town who are currently second in the Championship. Hear from manager George Elokobi.

Elsewhere, Gillingham will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to five games as they head to MK Dons in League Two.

We've been catching up with head coach Stephen Clemence and midfielder Jonny Williams.

A Chatham mum is fuming after the remainder of an £80 birthday cake she bought for her young son was eaten after she left it at a party venue.

She'd splashed out on the Thomas the Tank Engine-themed showstopper for her six-year-old’s bash at a bowling alley in the Pentagon. 

Also in today's podcast, a woman from Ashford is encouraging us all to know the symptoms of breast cancer after she nearly went undiagnosed. 

The 40-year-old dismissed her symptoms as a sign of the menopause, and only saw a gp after her husband encouraged her. 

A Kent dad is demanding an apology after his two-year-old daughter was left in tears after wetting herself at a seaside arcade because staff said she couldn't use the toilet. 

That's despite the family paying to use the amusements in Margate - the company bosses have blamed a lack of public facilities. 

Ambitious plans for  a huge concert hall on a town centre car park have been put on hold while developers consider making some changes. 

It was hoped the £9m project in Ashford would transform the nightlife, bringing West End shows, music concerts and opera to the town.

And a restaurant boss who braced the biting cold to provide kebabs for the homeless in Thanet has brushed off claims he is a “show off”.

In sub-zero temperatures, the owner of a Minster restaurant handed out left over food to rough sleepers but has been criticised for posting about it on social media. 

Traffic lights outside a controversial new-build estate in Ashford are set to be switched on next month – after disruptions and overnight closures. 

It comes as the first residents of the huge new development are expected in the spring. 

Also in today's podcast, a dog walker whose golden retriever was almost hit by a car says something needs to be done to stop brazen motorists driving down 'ghost roads'.

It comes as a new road in Ashford, which is currently closed as it is yet to be adopted by Kent Highways, is being used as a rat run by speeding drivers. 

Hear from the head of a secondary school in Kent who says bold plans to lock away smartphones in pouches are turning out to be more successful than they'd hoped. 

Teachers and pupils agree that school life has improved. 

Two tower blocks are set to be built in Maidstone despite neighbours’ claims the area has already been “crammed full with properties”.

A total of 107 homes are proposed for the site of the former Kent County Library.

And, he's famously travelled around the world in 80 days but Sir Michael Palin has made a stop at a pub in Kent on an “emotional” mission.

The globetrotting broadcaster paid a visit to the county to unveil a plaque in honour of a group of arctic explorers at the site of their last farewell.

Residents have slammed a new housing estate in Sittingbourne.

They say developers have built the properties in the wrong place and they're nearly two metres too high. Hear what one neighbour has had to say and we have a response from the developers.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent mum who was told her baby would be "better off without her" is calling for an apology from the government over forced adoptions.

Around 185,000 unmarried women were taken to hostels and told to give away their children in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

A Sheppey family fear they won't get justice after their cat was shot at what's said to be 'point-blank range'.

Silas was injured in the Halfway area last week and has since undergone expensive life-saving surgery. His owner has told the podcast what happened.

A Tunbridge Wells woman who was hit by a car in 2014 has completed a motorbike race across the Sahara.

Vanessa Ruck started biking after recovering from surgery.

And, Sophie Ellis-Bextor has been on our sister radio station kmfm to talk about the resurgence of her noughties hit 'Murder on the Dancefloor'.

It was used in the final scene of new movie Saltburn, and is back in the charts at number 10 on the Kent Top 40.

There has been major disruption in Kent because of Storm Isha, with strong winds bringing down trees causing power cuts and travel disruption.

Kent County Council say they are concerned about the growing cost of extreme weather conditions so far this winter.

Also in today’s episode, a woman who was told a lump in her breast was “nothing to worry about” has now been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

29-year-old Leonie Botten is trying to raise money for potentially life-saving treatment in America.

A couple from Hythe who lost their baby boy shortly after he was born are raising money to help other bereaved parents.

Amber Buckingham and Ally Painting managed to spend time with Beaux because of a cold cot, and they want to make sure every hospital has one.

Dozens of libraries across Kent could be closed to save money.

The council has announced plans to consult on offloading some of the buildings as they aim to balance the budget books over the next few years.

A Canterbury man says he is determined to keep driving even after reaching a milestone birthday.

Eric Dixon recently turned 100 but still loves getting behind the wheel.

And in football, Gillingham have had to settle for a draw against League 2 strugglers Forest Green Rovers.

Hear from head coach Stephen Clemence, who says he is disappointed after the match.

Ashford town centre has been taped off by police after a woman's body was found.

Officers and paramedics were called to the High Street just before 11.30pm last night. Hear from our reporter Dan Wright who's at the scene.

Also in today's podcast, a man is starting life in prison for murdering a homeless barrister in Canterbury.

Sobantu Sibanda, 28, who's also homeless, attacked Guy Malbec in a car park last April and left him wrapped in a sleeping bag. We've got reaction from police and the victim's brother-in-law who spoke outside court.

The ambulance trust covering Kent has apologised after a woman died in her mum's arms while waiting to be seen by paramedics.

Denise Aitcheson from Canterbury called emergency crews after her daughter started to have chest pains - but it took more than an hour for the call to be given top priority.

You can also hear from an Ashford hairdresser who discovered her own hair was falling out so is vowing to help support others with alopecia.

Hediye Garcia discovered a bald spot on the side of her head while checking her hair extensions in 2022.

Sam Lawrie's got a round up of everything going in Kent this weekend.

And in sport, Gillingham will be looking to make it four wins in a row in the league as they welcome Forest Green Rovers to Priestfield.

The Gills are just outside the play-off places while the visitors are bottom of the table and sacked their manager last night.

There's anger over changes to recycling rules that have come into force across Canterbury, Herne Bay and Whitstable.

Households have been warned blue and red-lidded recycling bins will not be collected if they're "contaminated".

Also in today's podcast, Rishi Sunak's Rwanda bill has passed its final hurdle in the Commons - despite some rebellion from his own Conservative backbenchers.

Former home secretary Suella Braverman and ex-immigration minister Robert Jenrick were among just 11 Tories who voted against it. The Prime Minister has been giving a news conference at Downing Street.

A Sheerness mum says her stillborn son would still be alive today if she'd been admitted to hospital sooner.

Kristina Pepper contacted Medway Maritime after experiencing unusual pregnancy symptoms but was told to "stop being silly". Kristina and her partner Lee have been sharing their story and we have a response from the hospital.

A Tunbridge Wells couple are celebrating winning a quarter of a million pounds on a lottery scratch card.

Michelle Newton and John Simpson are planning to pay off their mortgage and do some house renovations.

And in sport, Gillingham have made their first signing of the January transfer window.

Remeao Hutton is joining from Swindon Town - he's been speaking to the club's media.

A Bobbing man has been banned from Asda after running down a closed travelator to get home to his seriously-ill wife.

The 68-year-old admits he verbally abused the deputy manager after being “trapped” inside the Sittingbourne supermarket.

Also in today's podcast, three Kent MPs were among those who rebelled against the government and backed changes to the controversial Rwanda bill.

The vote has led to some speculating that Rishi Sunak could face a leadership challenge.

A school in Ashford has been forced to close six times in three months because its new £358,000 air source heat pump system keeps failing.

The “green” energy source was installed over the summer as part of a government initiative to help schools cut carbon emissions.

A Kent fuel campaigner has praised plans to give drivers access to price comparison technology to help them find the cheapest petrol or diesel. 

Millions of motorists will be able to get the latest petrol station prices at the simple click of a button under the proposed Pumpwatch scheme.

And in sport a Gillingham ice hockey team has released one of their players after violence broke out at a match over the weekend. 

The club says he went against their code of conduct when he raised a stick to another player.

Parents of disabled children say they are being “pushed out” by a Kent zoo after new restrictions were placed on carer passes. 

Rule changes at Wingham Wildlife Park have left some families concerned they won't be able to afford to take their kids. 

Also in today's podcast, the government's Rwanda scheme is back in the national spotlight today - there'll be a debate over amendments in the commons ahead of a vote tomorrow. 

A Kent charity is calling for the scheme to be scrapped completely following the death of five asylum seekers in the Channel over the weekend. 

The Church is facing a huge backlash over plans to build 23 homes between an A-road and ancient woodland near Tenterden. 

Those backing the proposals say it  will “make a positive contribution” to the community but critics says it's going to make the A28 a "nightmare". 

You can find out which Kent councils have the highest level of debt.

News figures also show where money is being spent across the county. 

And a supermarket cafe in Kent has been told to clean up its act after inspectors found evidence of mice in the kitchen.

The eatery was also told it needed to tackle poor food hygiene after they were found to be keeping food past its use-by date.