KentOnline

It has been a chaotic start to the big Christmas getaway, after an unexpected strike by Eurotunnel staff in France caused major disruption on Kent's roads.

Trains were cancelled for several hours yesterday, and although the dispute has now been resolved it has had a huge knock-on impact on cross-Channel traffic.

Also in today’s episode, shoppers are being urged to "keep their cool" this festive season, as retail workers in Kent speak out about violence, threats and abuse.

Figures show nearly two-thirds of staff have been verbally abused and 42% have been threatened.

There are calls for Kent Police to be given more resources to fight a synthetic drug that is 50 times stronger than heroin.

Nitazene has claimed the lives of 54 people across the country in the last six months. 12 of those were from the south east.

There is a reminder that help is available for anyone in Kent who is struggling with money worries, relationship or health issues over Christmas.

The County Council's "release the pressure" campaign offers free expert advice from trained counsellors.

Three local authorities in west Kent have teamed up to stop violence against women and girls.

An online survey has been launched to find out where people feel the most unsafe.

And a grieving son from Deal has written a Christmas song for his late mum, inspired by notes she wrote for him before her death.

64-year-old musician Paul Baker discovered her heartfelt words after Marjorie died aged 97 in a care home in September.

A man who left his wife with a permanent scar after attacking her at a caravan park in New Romney has been jailed.

A court has heard how Michael Quilligan was trying to stop his partner leaving a caravan at the Marlie Holiday Park when he grabbed her mouth.

Also in today's episode, bosses at a foodbank in Medway fear they'll hit record numbers this Christmas, as they continue to feed thousands of people.

Gillingham Street Angels run charity shops, soup kitchens and other support services - which costs about £1 million a year in total.

It comes as a poll has found more than half of us will be shopping at a cheaper supermarket this Christmas to save money.

We have spoken to a mum who is feeling the pressure and a shop owner who is cutting prices to help customers.

There is a warning to expect delays on Kent's roads over the next few days as the big Christmas getaway begins.

Lorry drivers will be trying to head home to Europe in time for the big day, and lots of people will be travelling to see friends and family.

A Canterbury man has been telling us how he is honouring the memory of his late wife by decorating conifer trees outside their house. 

David Hampson lives in St Lawrence Forstal and lost his partner Sara after she was diagnosed with a rare tumour in 2020.

With only a few days to go before Christmas, we are taking a look at whether as many people are sending out cards this year.

The cost of stamps went up in October and there have been issues with postal services in parts of the county.

And in football, Gillingham manager Stephen Clemence has been telling us how he is preparing for their busy festive period.

They have four games in 11 days, starting with a trip to Forest Green tomorrow.

A woman from Charing is facing prison after being found guilty of causing the death of another woman while using her phone behind the wheel.

Emma Farrelly was trying to make a call to her dad when she hit a car, killing the passenger.

Also in today's episode, East Kent Hospital Trust has been told it must take immediate action to make improvements, following an inspection..

The Care Quality Commission found failings with medical care and children and young people services at both the William Harvey in Ashford and Margate's QEQM.

Part of a road has collapsed in Maidstone after a large sinkhole opened up.

The area at the junction between Gatland Lane and Farleigh Lane has been fenced off while repairs are carried out.

Pregnant women in Kent are being encouraged to come forward for a whooping cough jab amid a sharp rise in cases.

More than 700 people are thought to have been infected across England and Wales between July and November.

We are being warned to get our train travel arrangements in place ahead of the busy Christmas period.

Network bosses say there will be plenty of services in and out of Kent in the lead up to the big day, but there will be trackwork this weekend for people heading into London.

And in football, Gillingham's under 18s are through to the next round of the FA Youth Cup .

A penalty in injury time last night secured their 2-1 win over Oxford.

Planning papers reveal a divisive seafront development dubbed a “mini Center Parcs” could have up to 220 holiday homes.

New documents show the scale of the bold proposals to turn Hythe Golf Club into a lakeside tourist destination.

Also in today's podcast, hear from police officers who have been on patrol tackling violence against women in Canterbury.

Operation Vigilant is a special mission to find men displaying signs of predatory behaviour, such as sexual harassment, inappropriate touching and loitering.

Drone and police dogs are being used to try and hunt down burglars who stole £14,000 worth of silver bullion and coins in Kent. 

The intruders scaled a fence at the private residence while the owners were watching television upstairs. 

A former nightclub in Chatham could be transformed into even more apartments than planned after developers resubmitted proposals for a new housing project.

61 flats could now be built  on the site of Krystals Nightclub and Vanity Bar which shut in the summer of 2013.

And in sport, Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence insists captain Shaun Williams remains part of their plans.

The Gills skipper hasn’t been named in the squad in their last two league games and the 37-year-old has only featured as a substitute in two FA Cup fixtures. 

A pub landlord who's thought to be the youngest in Kent has spent £50,000 revamping his old local.

Kyle Blair went to The Black Horse on Bean High Street with his parents growing up, and became the landlord when he was just 20.

Also in today’s episode, a driving instructor from Deal who was found asleep at the wheel following a drinking session has been fined and banned from driving.

Former police officer Mitchell Humphrys, who ran Mitch's School of Motoring, was reported by his ex-wife after going out to the pub in July.

A £2.5 billion theme park earmarked for north Kent looks like it could be completely scrapped.

Plans for London Resort on the Swanscombe Peninsula have already stalled, and now council bosses in Dartford are calling on the government to strip the site of its Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project status.

It is claimed nearly £70 million has been invested into post-Brexit border checks at the Eurotunnel in Folkestone.

The system has been severely delayed, but when it does come in, it should mean a faster check in process for passengers.

Residents in part of Canterbury have criticised plans for a new A2 slip road.

Developers behind the nearby Saxon Fields estate in Thanington have a duty to built it, to reduce congestion in the area, but not everyone thinks it will work.

And in football, hear from Gillingham manager Stephen Clemence after their disappointing defeat in league 2 over the weekend.

They were beaten 2-0 by Bradford at Priestfield, and have slipped down to 10th in the table.

A Sittingbourne woman says she would be terrified to go back to A&E, after sitting in a waiting room for four days.

Sandra Yemen was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital with severe stomach pain and suspected blood clots.

Also in today's episode, a person has died after a boat carrying 66 asylum seekers capsized overnight in the Channel.

Another person is in a critical condition in hospital following a search and rescue operation off the coast of France.

The family of a Gravesend security guard killed in a crush at the O2 Brixton Academy are urging people who were there to contact police.

It is a year since Gaby Hutchinson died after fans tried to get into the venue.

Our What's On editor is here to tell us about some of the festive events happening in Kent over the next week or so.

That includes pantos, concerts and screenings of Christmas films.

And in football, hear from Gillingham midfielder Tim Dieng about his return from injury.

He will be facing his former team Bradford City in League 2 this Saturday.

Top Boy star Ashley Walters has revealed he'll have to move if a Kent council keeps rejecting his plans to extend his home.

The former So Solid Crew member wants to make changes to the bungalow he owns near Herne Bay.

Also in today's podcast, two parts of Kent have been named among the worst places for homelessness in the south east.

We've been speaking to Shelter who compiled the figures.

Meantime, a charity based in the county town say they saw a spike in families relying on foodbanks during the first week back at school in September.

Maidstone Homeless Care says spiralling costs mean households budgets can quickly get out of control. Hear from manager Tara Beckett.

The MP for Canterbury is calling for more action to tackle sexual assault and harassment in the health service.

Figures from the British Medical Association show a third of NHS female surgical staff have been attacked by colleagues in the past five years. Rosie Duffield has been leading a debate in Parliament.

There are calls for more education about transgender issues in schools, after an academy was criticised for adding it to the national curriculum.

Bosses at Meopham Community Academy wanted to introduce gender identity for primary pupils, but some parents complained. We've been speaking to a transgender woman from Gravesend who says education would have helped her.

And, we're finally able to see Rochester on the small screen as part 2 of the last season of The Crown is released today...

The Guildhall in the High Street was used for scenes showing Charles and Camilla's wedding - which actually happened in Windsor.

A leisure complex in Tonbridge could be knocked down after it was deemed 'not fit for purpose'.

Council bosses are looking at replacing the Angel Centre with a completely new building. Hear from leader Matt Boughton.

Also in today's podcast, the Prime Minister has survived a vote on his Rwanda asylum policy.

The bill's passed to the next stage with a majority of 43, but still has a number of hurdles to overcome. Hear what Dover's Natalie Elphicke had to say during a debate, and we've got reaction from Ashford's Damian Green.

Medway is getting a share of £5 million of funding to bring historic buildings back to life.  

The money will help the council take over dilapidated old sites between Rochester and Chatham and create valuable spaces for the community.

Business owners in Whitstable have told the podcast they won't survive if plans to hike parking fees go ahead.

The proposals by Canterbury City Council would see the hourly rate at the town's two main sites rise to £3.70.

A petition against plans for a new bus route through Dover has been handed in to Parliament.

700 people have signed it - urging the council to re-think the Fastrack proposals which pass an historic church.

And, if the weather's ok you might see a meteor shower in Kent tonight.

It's called Geminid and is one of the most active of the year with up to 100 meteors an hour.

A five-year-old boy from Gravesend with a rare genetic condition is on life support in a London hospital after catching a cold. 

His mother says he is critically ill, but hopes he'll be home in time for Christmas. 

Also in today's podcast, it's a big day for the Prime Minister as he tries to get his Rwanda asylum plan through the commons. 

You can hear the thoughts of Ashford MP Damian Green who leads the One Nation group of around 100 conservative. 

There's been a clear warning from Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner - do not buy your children an e-scooter for Christmas.

Matthew Scott says they are not legal on public roads, they're dangerous and a waste of money.

Parents in Dartford are demanding answers about a park that’s been closed for eight months, leaving children with nowhere to go.

Baker Crescent park was shut for refurbishment in April, so residents have had to take youngsters one-and-a-half miles away to play. 

And, anxious residents fear for their "once-lovely" Ashford village as plans for hundreds more homes are revealed.

Villagers say “complete overdevelopment” leaves them in danger of being swamped.

Plans for a new nightclub in Ashford have been welcomed by residents who say it could bring much-needed footfall and variety to their town.

If approved it would only be 400 metres from the town's only other club Cameo. 

Also in today's podcast, a married couple "got the wrong" end of the stick when they launched a violent attack on a man they believed to have used a homophobic slur. 

The pair lashed out outside a pub in Canterbury and left their victim with a fractured jaw. 

Some sad news, with a man found dead in a vehicle parked behind a Co-op in Northfleet. 

A witness has described how the car park behind the supermarket was taped off in the aftermath, with a large number of police and forensic cars at the scene.

A Kent village is about to get  its first fish and chip shop in decades and residents say it's "quite exciting".

It's set to open in Newington High Street on the site of a former pub. 

And hear from Gillingham boss Stephen Clemence as he looks forward to his first January transfer window. 

He also says he's not getting distracted by the FA Cup campaign.