KentOnline

Villagers on Sheppey say their mile-long pop to the shop takes as long as an hour due to ongoing gas works. 

Chalet owners in Eastchurch have reported "nightmare" congestion after traffic was diverted down a narrow country lane. 

Also in today's podcast, hear from a  Kent GP who has criticised the government for blaming NHS waiting lists on industrial action.

The Health Foundation's warning the number of people waiting for treatment could rise to 8 million by next summer.

Thousands of pounds have been raised for a primary school after a “heartbreaking” fire  in Sittingbourne. 

Four fire engines and a crane were called to Rodersham Primary School after flames ripped through the building last night. 

Two women have appeared in court accused of hurling abuse at pupils outside a school in Thanet. 

A teacher had to intervene when the pair confronted children they suspected of bullying. 

And, new plans have been unveiled to transform a long-running golf course into a lakeside holiday destination. 

A collection chalets, a children’s play park and a boating lake could be created on land currently used by Hythe Golf Club.

A woman has described the moment she drove past a lorry that had been engulfed in flames on the M2. 

Two people have been treated for burns after the vehicle went up in flames at Junction 2 for Strood. 

Also in today's podcast, hospital bosses have admitted the death of a much-loved primary school teacher with a “beautiful soul” could have been avoided. 

She died suddenly near Folkestone just days after first suffering from severe abdominal pain.

Proposals to convert a derelict telephone exchange have been rejected for a fourth time in a planning saga that has lasted 10 years.

The woman who purchased the site near Maidstone says she feels like she has lost £40,000 in the wind trying to get it back into use.

A construction worker says he was left feeling “violated and dirty” after a man followed him into an Asda toilet and performed an indecent act in front of him.

The 21-year-old had been in the Sittingbourne supermarket when he was targeted. 

And a pub in Chatham has reopened to punters with new landlords and a £360,000 revamp.

The new husband and wife team say they want to be the heart of the community. 

A Faversham man says he was left shaken and in tears after being pulled over by armed police following what he claims was a malicious 999 call.

Daniel Pearce says officers with guns dragged him from his car and handcuffed him after he was stopped on the A28 near Ashford.

A Dover man has been seriously injured in a motorbike crash while on holiday in Greece.

37 year-old dad-of-four Kie Mathias collided with a bus in Athens last Friday and is still unconscious.

The decision not to have Eurostar services stop in Kent is being debated in parliament.

A petition has been signed by more than 34-thousand people asking for the trains to stop at Ebbsfleet and Ashford International stations again.

It is feared it is only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt by dangerous motorbike riders using alleyways in Sittingbourne.

Police have issued images of three people riding around the Murston area of the town.

And in football, Gillingham have moved up to seventh in the League 2 table after beating Swindown Town.

Last night's 1-0 victory ends their losing streak away from home.

A dad has been described as a loving, caring gentleman following his tragic death in the sea off the Kent coast.

Tributes have been paid to 38-year-old Matthew Collins, who died in Broadstairs just three weeks after the birth of his sixth child.

Also in today’s episode, a police officer has been left with serious facial injuries following an attack near Sittingbourne.

Four officers were assaulted after being called to reports of a disturbance on Church Lane in Newington on Sunday morning.

As we mark Black History Month, there are calls for more people from ethnic minority backgrounds in Kent to get involved in politics.

Stats seen by Kent Online show fewer than 5% of county councillors are BAME.

There has been a rise in the number of parents and carers reaching out to support services for help because their children won't go to school.

A Kent mum says her teenage daughter was thriving and sociable before the pandemic, but started struggling coming out of lockdown.

In football, Gillingham are back on the road tonight as they travel to take on Swindon Town.

They'll be looking to bounce back from a 2-1 defeat to Notts County which has left them 9th in the league 2 table.

Details have emerged of how a 12 year-old girl died after collapsing at school in Medway.

Pearl Unu-Arubi was flown to a London hospital after struggling to breathe at Rochester Grammar School in March.

Also in today’s episode, a Maidstone mum who was told not to learn British Sign Language when she went deaf at the age of nine is now teaching others on TikTok.

Claire Killacky lost her hearing after having meningitis and stayed in a mainstream school by lip reading.

A dad who set up a group to help other men discuss the burdens of fatherhood says it has been such a success they're expanding across the county.

Denver King says Dadspace has helped people open up about their struggles, especially during the cost of living crisis.

KentOnline has been hearing how philanthropists are helping to prop up the charity sector in Kent as the cost of living hits donations.

Most of us are not able to give as much as we used to and funding from government and councils has reduced.

And in football, the interim Gillingham manager has been reacting to their 2-1 defeat to Notts County on Saturday.

The result has left the Gills ninth in the league two table.

The family of a man who died in a crash on the A228 near West Malling have descibed him as the 'nicest man in the world'.

The motorbike 43-year-old Scott Reeve was riding collided with traffic lights at a pedestrian crossing not far from the railway station on Sunday evening.

An elderly woman has been left waiting in the cold for more than an hour, as there was no room for her wheelchair on a bus.

79-year-old Diane Williams was at Folkestone bus station with her daughter, who is calling for Stagecoach to adapt their vehicles.

Princess Anne has been in Kent to officially open the new Royal British Legion Industries' Centenary Village in Aylesford.

Dozens of homes have been built for veterans as part of the £22 million project.

As part of National Adoption Week it has been revealed there are more than 2,000 children waiting for their forever home. 

It is something families across Kent are being encouraged to consider, with the number of children being adopted dropping by nearly a quarter over the past five years.

A charity football match is taking place in Medway this weekend.

The nine-a-side tournament is happening at Cross Park in Allhallows tomorrow.

And, England rugby star Ben Earl has sent a message to his former club Sevenoaks ahead of their World Cup semi-final tomorrow.

The chairman says he has been a huge inspiration.

A rogue builder from Chatham who took money for jobs he never finished has been ordered to pay back more than £8,000.

One of the people scammed by Oliver Hooper-Ross turned detective on Facebook to find other victims and make sure justice was served.

Also in today's episode, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner has called for more prisons to be built to tackle current overcrowding.

Matthew Scott says the system needs more capacity to deal with the number of charges being brought by officers.

An engineer from Kent has been telling us how his apprenticeship has helped him in his career .

Nick Letham is working at National Grid but says not many young people know the programmes are even an option.

The first ever Youth Festival in Dover is taking place this half term.

Future Foundry, which helps young people set up businesses and events, are taking over a large space in the Charlton Centre to stage eight days of activities.

And in football, we've chatting to the Sheppey United captain after they made it through to the first round of the FA Cup.

They beat Billericay on penalties on Tuesday night.

The dad of a young man who died after taking a 'cocktail of drugs' during birthday celebrations has paid a heartbreaking tribute.

Chase Oldale-Worth was found unresponsive at his home in July after turning 23. Hear from reporter Alex Jee who has been speaking to the family.

Also in today's podcast, foodbanks across Kent are braced for their worst winter yet with demand for their services at an all time high.

The Trussell Trust runs seven sites in the county and expects to hand out more than one million emergency food parcels in the next three months. We've been speaking to their project manager in Swale.

A Kent MP has promised everything will be done to keep communities safe in the UK as fighting in the Middle East continues.

Israel launched strikes on Gaza after militant group Hamas carried out a surprise attack on the country just over a week ago. Hear from Tonbridge and Malling rep Tom Tugendhat.

Thousands of children across Kent are finding out if they can apply to go to a grammar school next September.

Results of the Kent Test are out and we've got analysis from education expert Graham Jones from Whitehead Monckton solicitors in Maidstone.

An incredibly popular arts and crafts shop in Chatham is closing down after 40 years.

Just Fabrics started off as a stall in the town's market before moving to the Pentagon shopping centre - but has to leave their current base. Hear from the owner.

As Black History Month continues, final preparations are being made for an event to celebrate all cultures across Kent.

The Empower Gala will award people who go above and beyond within their community.

And in sport, Sheppey United have qualified for the opening round of the FA Cup for the first time ever.

They beat Billericay Town on penalties in their replay match last night and will take on league 2 side Walsall next.

A former RAF Air Cadets base in Gillingham has been branded a 'death trap' after being targeted by vandals.

The site has been left covered in graffiti with crumbling concrete and needles on the floor. Hear from reporter Joe Harbert who has been covering the story.

Also on today's podcast, more pressure is being put on Eurostar to stop their trains in Kent again.

The services haven't called at Ashford or Ebbsfleet international stations since the pandemic - and there's no sign of them resuming.

Now council bosses have joined forces and want to hear from companies about the impact it's had on them.

A Dartford mum has been telling the podcast about her experience with ADHD, as we mark an awareness month.

Emma Ben Moussa has two children with the condition, and was diagnosed herself just a few years ago. She's been speaking to reporter Keely Greenwood.

Roads bosses have been showing off their fleet of gritters that'll keep the roads clear of snow and ice this winter.

New drivers are currently being trained and 6 depots across the county are stocked with 23-thousand tonnes of salt.

You can head to KentOnline to see how an artist has transformed two dull-looking utility boxes in Tunbridge Wells...

Louise Dean was commissioned to paint some of the street furniture in Calverley Road.

And in sport, Kent Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes has completed a relay triathlon to raise awareness of marine conservation.

There will be Christmas lights in Medway this year - despite the council saying they can not afford to fund them.

The authority announced last week it was having to cut back on festive decorations in the Towns which would have cost £75,000.

A crowdfunding campaign set up over the weekend for lights in Rochester has raised almost £24,000 and three companies have announced they will make sure Strood, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham are lit up.

We've got reaction from Rochester's conservative MP and a local Labour councillor.

Also in today's podcast, a coach company has announced it's closing a depot in Kent after 55 years.

National Express Transport Solutions have started a consultation to shut the Kings Ferry site in Gillingham.

We're being urged to learn how to save a life as part of Restart a Heart Day.

The charity that runs the air ambulance in Kent is holding free sessions for schools, businesses and community groups to learn how to do CPR.

Traders in Gravesend have welcomed news the council is bringing in an external company to manage Gravesham Borough Market.

It is hoped outside expertise will help to increase footfall to the market, which is one of the oldest surviving in the country.

Congratulations to a tattoo parlour in Tunbridge Wells that's been named the best in Kent.

Black and Even opened eight years ago and has even inked celebs including Kerry Katona and Tamara Ecclestone. We hear from the owner.

And, it wasn't a good weekend for Gillingham as they suffered a 4-1 defeat on the road at Walsall.

Macauley Bonne got the only goal for the Gills who've dropped to seventh in league two.