KentOnline

A mum has removed her son from a school in Tonbridge after finding a blade in his bag.

The eight year-old claims it was put there by another pupil. Hear what the school have said to other parents in an email.

Also in today's podcast, a man has been taken to hospital after being stabbed in Canterbury.

It happened on Station Road East in the early hours of this morning.

Firefighters have spent the night at the scene of a large fire at a farm near Ashford.

Several buildings and tonnes of hay caught alight at the site in Sellindge on Wednesday night.

Green campaigners in Kent are welcoming a ban on single use plastics that comes into force this weekend.

From October 1st, restaurants, takeaways and sandwich shops won't be able to use things like plastic plates, bowls and cutlery. We've been speaking to Liz O'Hanlon who founded the Rainham Eco Hub.

Tom Parker's widow has spoken out as part of a campaign to get more of us talking about loss. 

The singer from The Wanted died last year after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. 

Kelsey Parker, who lives in Kent, is sharing her story as she hopes to inspire others to start discussions with grieving friends and family members. 

Features writer Sam Lawrie has a roundup of everything going on in Kent this weekend.

And in sport, reporter Luke Cawdell has been chatting to the Gillingham manager ahead of their clash with Mansfield Town at Priestfield.

The Gills are currently second in the table with tomorrow's opposition just one place below them.

Dozens of firefighters have been tackling a huge fire at a farm near Ashford.

Crews were called to Elmtree Farm in Sellindge last night and battled to move cows to safety as flames swept through two barns.

Hear from people who live nearby and from Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

Also in today's podcast, a protest has been held outside County Hall in Maidstone as parents call for a reform of special needs education.

We've been speaking to organiser Lisa Lloyd from Larkfield, who has two children with autism.

A mum and daughter in Maidstone say they have been forced to sleep outside after a strong smell of sewage filled their home.

Linda Porter lives in Bethersden Court and has been left feeling ill since the problem began last Friday. She's described the situation and we have a response from the housing association.

There are calls for greyhound racing at tracks including the one in Sittingbourne to be banned within five years.

Charity Blue Cross says it's concerned about the number of reported injuries and the general welfare of the dogs.

And, a former wasteland has been turned into a home for a cycling café - made from reclaimed shipping containers.

The Hub in Wye has taken two years to complete. Reporter Liane Castle has been along to see what it's like.

The Princess of Wales has been in Kent to learn about the support given to children with special educational needs and their families.

Kate joined a family portage session - something that's available to youngsters from the time they're born until they start school.

Our reporter Megan Carr was also there and spoke to families and practitioners who met the Princess.

Also in today's podcast, four Kent firefighters who went to Morocco to provide support after the deadly earthquake have been speaking to the podcast after arriving back home.

Nearly 3,000 people are known to have died and thousands more have been left injured after the 6.8 magnitude quake.

A Dover woman has criticised council bosses after receiving a letter telling her to leave her late mother's house - just a month after she died.

Sally Sedgewick lived with and cared for her mum who had dementia for more than a decade. She's been speaking to our reporter Sam Lennon.

Villagers on a busy stretch of the A2 say too many drivers are still speeding, despite a 20 mile per hour zone being introduced.

The Community Speed Watch group in Newington tracked almost 400 vehicles going above the limit - that's 9% of the overall total they monitored. Hear from a member of the group and a local councillor.

And in sport, find out which Paralympian from Kent is going to be representing England at the Karate World Championships.

A boxer from Ashford is starting more than two years in prison for dealing cocaine.

Welterweight Jack Ewbank was pulled over by police while driving in Folkestone - find out what details were revealed in court.

Also in today's podcast, a Chatham dad's issued a warning after a fire at his house which was caused by leaving electrical items on charge.

A bedroom at the property on St Mary's Island was badly damaged - but crews say the flames didn't spread further because the door had been closed.

We've got reaction to news the number of NHS appointments moved or cancelled because of strikes in England has passed one million.

Almost 130,000 were affected just last week when junior doctors and consultants walked out at the same time. Hear from Medway GP, Dr Julian Spinks.

The KentOnline Podcast can reveal councils in Kent have failed to publish annual accounts detailing how they've spent hundreds of millions of pounds of public money.

Analysis by our political editor Paul Francis shows most authorities are yet to comply with their legal requirement.

The Freedom of Medway has been given to two charities to recognise the work they do in the Towns.

Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust and the Chatham Branch of the Royal Naval Association have been awarded the honour at a special ceremony.

And, the founders of a Kent football club have been nominated for an unsung heroes in football award.

Steve Bowers and Bob Chivington have been running Cinque Ports FC, in Deal, for over ten years

Three hostels for homeless people in Gravesend and Northfleet are going to close after the charity running them ran out of cash.

The House of Mercy charity has supported people in the towns for more than 30 years - hear from Michael Donovan who's vice chairman of trustees.

Also in today's podcast, a Northfleet woman who owns an XL Bully has joined a protest in London after plans were announced to ban the breed.

The Prime Minister made the decision after a spate of attacks - we've been speaking to Chell West who owns one of the dogs.

A Kent woman has joined an MS society campaign to call for an overhaul of the disability payment system.

Shereena Aitken-Grey says there are a number of hoops you have to jump through to be able to claim the Personal Independence Payment, but for someone with MS it can be difficult. 

A self-employed builder has been handed an invoice for £24,000 after disturbing a power main while working on land near Swanley.

Mark Staples was installing fence posts on a property in Hextable when he accidentally knocked out power to the whole village. Hear from Mark and we have a statement from the company.

With less than 100 days until Christmas, we've been catching up with some of the stars of one of Kent's pantos.

Peter Pan will be taking place at the Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone this festive season.

And in sport, it was a disappointing result for Gillingham at the weekend.

They were beaten 2-1 at Doncaster Rovers which means they drop to second in the league two table. We've been getting reaction from manager Neil Harris and goalscorer Conor Masterson.

Residents have slammed plans for new houses in Teynham saying the once idyllic village has become a "dumping ground" for development. 

Just this year, work has started on 300 new homes with approval granted for another 380. 

Also in today's podcast, we hear the story of a Kent dad who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer after being told his neck pain was a pulled muscle. 

The 33-year-old was given the devastating diagnosis only days after he thought he was in remission.

A mother has made a heart breaking plea for her son to come home - after he went missing from Maidstone more than two weeks ago. 

Extensive searches have been carried out for 17-year-old Russel Burrdett-Deakin.

Seven drivers have been snared in 45 minutes speeding through Faversham's new 20-mile-per-hour zone.  

The change was brought in after a "20 is plenty" campaign.  

And in sport, Gillingham are heading north to take on Doncaster Rovers this weekend. 

Goal keeper Jake Turner talks us through how the squad are feeling ahead of the game. 

The wife of a dad from Gillingham has paid tribute after he died in a work accident at Twickenham stadium.

Mitchell Bonney, 36, was an escalator engineer and a volunteer coach for the Upchurch Colts Under 9s.

Also in today's podcast, a young Kent woman whose ex shared naked pictures of her online when she was just 14 has welcomed the Online Safety Bill finally becoming law.

It's been signed off by parliament and means tech companies will have to make their sites safe for children.

Local bosses say they are doing all they can to get Kent's roads ready before winter.

It follows stats that show Kent County Council have failed to reach five our of six targets for pothole repairs so far this year.

Kent Wildlife Trust have launched a campaign to save the River Stour, amid concerns about government policies increasing pollution.

Ministers want to allow developers to side-step Nutrient Neutrality regulations so they can build homes more quickly.

People living in Folkestone say they're being kept awake at night by a strange sound.

It's thought to be coming from a new luxury apartment block when it's windy.

People living on an estate in Ashford say they feel trapped in their own homes after a bus service was suddenly scrapped.

Stagecoach says it's made the decision not to serve the Little Burton estate because of a fall in passenger numbers. Hear from one resident who relied on the bus, and we've got a response from the company.

Also in today's podcast, the home secretary's urging tech companies to improve online safety, following a visit to Kent Police.

Suella Braverman's been to the digital forensics lab in Maidstone.

A financial report's revealed Medway Council is 'very likely' to go bankrupt.

The Labour group, who have been in charge since May, have been told the authority could be in serious trouble if action isn't taken. Hear from leader Vince Maple and former leader Alan Jarrett. You can also watch a report on KMTV.

A Kent dad has been explaining how a kidney transplant changed his life, as we mark Organ Donation Week.

Steve Eames from Sandwich was diagnosed with kidney disease 16 years ago.

A building in Dover that was used by Banksy for one of his most famous works is being demolished.

And,  Kent's Zak Crawley is leading a new look England team for the first time today.

They are taking on Ireland in three one-day games.

The landlord of a Medway pub says his income has been badly affected by regular closures of the Lower Rainham Road.

Hear from our reporter Joe Harbert who has been following the story.

Also in today's podcast, NHS bosses say strike action this week will result in "serious challenges" for health services across Kent and Medway.

Hospital consultants are beginning a two-day walkout and they'll be joined by junior doctors tomorrow. We've been getting reaction from Medway GP, Dr Julian Spinks.

A Medway vicar who took part in a major inquiry into the treatment of people at an immigration removal centre hopes it'll lead to 'sweeping reforms'.

It was launched after a Panorama investigation in 2017 into how those at Brook House at Gatwick were being looked after. Hear from Rev Nathan Ward.

The parents of a severely disabled teenager have told the KentOnline Podcast that the medical care he's getting in a Kent hospital is making him worse, not better.

James Iles was admitted to Medway Maritime with a rare stomach condition. His mum and dad have been speaking to reporter Keely Greenwood.

A campaign is under way to save green space in Ashford from being turned into housing.

An area of land on Quantock Drive was bought by a property developer last year. We've been speaking to local residents.

And, a new centre giving children the chance to play at being grown-ups has opened in Ashford.

A previously empty unit in Park Mall has been converted into Little Land by two former teachers. Reporter Chantal Weller has been finding out more.

The family of a Margate mum who died just a month after giving birth claim she was "fat-shamed" by staff. 

An inquest has heard how the 38-year-old was “tormented” by comments  - hospital bosses say a thorough investigation has taken place. 

Also in today's podcast, there are calls for police to be tougher on boy racers gathering on an industrial estate in Medway

Business owners want police to start getting tough after buildings were vandalised and staff were abused. 

An ex-soldier has been sent to prison after assaulting a pensioner and killing his dog in a Folkestone bedsit.

The 56-year-old was high on cocaine at the time of the attacks. 

A pub near Westerham that is more than 700 years old is set to be demolished to make room for a care home. 

The Grasshopper Inn has been closed since 2019 when it shut for renovation but never reopened. 

And in sport, hear the reaction from Gillingham manager Neil Harris after their latest League 2 win. 

Their victory over Morcambe puts them back at the top of the table.