KentOnline

Firefighters have been  tackling a blaze involved 300 tonnes of waste at a recycling centre in Medway.

Crews were called to the site at Chatham Docks just after midnight and told people living nearby to keep windows and doors closed because of the smoke. Hear from a man who lives nearby and our reporter Alex Langridge.

Also in today's podcast, a killer insect that's threatening bee populations has been spotted more in Kent than any other part of the country this summer.

Just last month there were 18 confirmed sightings of the Asian Hornet in the county - with more than 20 nests destroyed.

Reporter Chantal Weller has been speaking to beekeeper Peter Down whose business has been devastated.

It's feared vital habitat in Thanet could be destroyed if plans for a massive electricity converter station are given the go ahead.

The facility would be the size of at least seven football pitches. Gerry Warren has been chatting to campaigner George Cooper who is very concerned.

Plans have been put in to convert a church in a Kent village into a holiday let.

Appledore Methodist was sold at auction for just under £221,000 last year. The chairman of the parish council has given us his reaction.

In sport, Gillingham will be hoping to keep their place at the top of the table as they welcome Morecambe to Priestfield this weekend.

The Gills have won five out of seven league games so far this season - all of them 1-0. Midfielder George Lapslie and manager Neil Harris have been speaking ahead of the game.

Firefighters from Kent who have been sent to help with recovery efforts in Morocco say they're witnessing devastation. 

Nearly 3000 people are known to have died following last week's earthquake. 

Also in today's podcast, parents of school children near Canterbury are calling for better bus services after students were left stranded by the side of the road. 

The busses drove past because they were already full but it's angered those who pay £450 a year for a bus pass. 

Local bosses in Kent have hit back at claims the authority is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

It's been claimed Kent County Council is one of the six that could go the same way as Birmingham and Woking 

Backlash for the operators of Chatham Dockside car park over plans to introduce paid parking. 

Taxi drivers are among those saying the move will "kill off" the shopping centre. 

And, a blunder from staff at Maidstone Hospital has seen patient calls diverted to a pub landlord's mobile. 

The hospital has apologised after he was bombarded with inquiries about MRI appointments. 

New parking charges are being introduced at a popular shopping centre in Chatham. 

The decision has caused outrage with many saying it's a money making scheme and they won't shop there anymore. 

Also in today's podcast, we have an update on the murder of a pub landlord from Maidstone.

Matthew Bryant was stabbed to death on Monday night and a woman has now been charged. 

Hear the reaction of staff at a shop in Deal who say new double yellow lines outside are keeping customers away. 

They say the restrictions have taken away six parking spaces and people are too scared to stop. 

A Kent McDonalds has been shut down after a rat was spotted in the drive-thru.

The branch in Medway had to be deep cleaned and professional pest control experts were called in. 

And in sport, Danny Dyer's going to be playing in a charity football match in Kent this weekend

It's to raise money for a little boy who was born with a rare genetic condition.

A murder investigation is under way following the death of a man in Maidstone. 

The victim has been named as a popular pub landlord - a woman who is known to him has been taken into custody. 

Also in today's podcast, a Rochester mum is urging new parents to be aware of a rare brain condition that she claims was missed by maternity staff and health visitors. 

Oliver's conditions wasn't diagnosed until he was nearly one year old when he was forced to have invasive surgery. 

Two Wilko stores in Kent are among the 24 outlets set to shut today. 

It comes as hopes of a last-minute rescue deal collapsed yesterday.

A couple from Canterbury say they're being tormented by a mysterious banging noise that's been going on for eight weeks. 

They're part of a mobile home community that's disturbed every morning at 4am  and say everyone is suffering. 

And hear about plans to transform an iconic water tower in Medway. 

Tesco is seeking approval for the tower in Rainham to be completely repainted, including fresh branding on the front and back

Residents in Teynham near Sittingbourne say constant water leaks around the railway station are becoming dangerous.

People living near the level crossing are scared it could be damaged or even subside if South East Water don't fix the problem soon. We've been  speaking to a local councillor and have reaction from the water company.

Also in today's podcast, we've been finding out what sort of impact a Costco store could have as the retailer prepares to open its first store here.

The American brand announced last month it had two potential locations in mind. Hear from Tudor Price from the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.

A Kent singer who tried take her own life several times has been speaking to the podcast about how she managed to turn her life around.

Sophie Benfold, from Gravesend, suffered from depression and became addicted to cocaine following a traumatic incident in her childhood. 

We can also hear from an army reservist from Kent who almost lost a leg in a motorbike accident and now is competing at the Invictus Games.

Staff Sergeant Jonny Ball was seriously injured in 2019 and has undergone a number of gruelling surgeries to rebuild his leg. He's been chatting from the Games in Germany.

And in sport, Gillingham are top of League Two after a last gasp victory against Harrogate Town in the blistering heat on Saturday.

Captain Shaun Williams got the only goal of the gate late on in added time as it finished 1-0 at Priestfield.

Lorries are stacked waiting for extra checks at Dover and part of the M20 remains closed as the search for escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife enters its third day. 

Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay says it's highlighted some glaring security issues that need to be addressed. 

Also in today's podcast, dozens of staff have walked away from a bus company operating in Kent after the closure of a local depot. 

As many as 50 employees, many of them drivers, have left Stagecoach just ahead of planned service cuts. 

Drivers in Tunbridge Wells may have been unfairly slugged with a fine for driving in a bus lane. 

It's been suggested the controversial charges were introduced against government regulation. 

New music from a Kent singer-songwriter is set to be released ten years after he passed away. 

The tracks for the unreleased album, which  were stuck on his laptop after he died , have been described as his "final gift". 

And in sport, Gillingham are back in League 2 action this weekend as they taken on Harrogate Town. 

You can hear from defender Robbie Mckenzie and manager Neil Harris. 

Part of the M20 in Kent was shut today as a huge manhunt for an escaped prisoner continued.

Daniel Khalife managed to escape from Wandsworth jail in south London yesterday. It's led to Kent's police and crime commissioner calling for a full investigation into what happened.

Also in today's podcast, the roof of a Kent theatre could need to be replaced after it was found to contain a potentially dangerous form of concrete.

We've already been told the Orchard in Dartford will be closed until the end of the month while investigations take place. Hear from the council leader Jeremy Kite.

We've got an update on Eurostar and whether they are ever going to stop at stations in Kent again.

Trains haven't called at Ashford or Ebbsfleet international since the first Covid lockdown back in March 2020.

KentOnline's Liane Castle has been to an important meeting about it in Ashford and reports back.

It's Kent Test day for thousands of pupils across the county.

The results will determine which children can apply for a place at a grammar school for next September. But some say the system is outdated and needs to be scrapped. We've been speaking to a campaigner.

And, there are concerns Kent could lose millions of pounds as a result of the writers and actors strike going on in Hollywood.

In a good year, film and tv production in Kent can bring in as much as £8 million to the local economy - but this year we'll see nowhere near that amount. 

We've been chatting to Gabrielle Lindemann from the Kent Film Office.

A five piece party band from Sittingbourne has struck a chord with fans at a festival and forced organisers to cut the event short. 

The group were performing at The Quay as part of the Hop Festival in Faversham when crowds began to spill across a busy road. 

Also in today's podcast, Kent is bracing for a rare September heatwave as temperatures push above 30 degrees. 

An amber heat health alert has been issued and we're being warned it could put pressure on the NHS. 

Angry residents of a flat in Chatham say rough sleepers are letting themselves in and setting up in their hallways. 

Broken doors and security gates mean anyone can walk in and use communal facilities. 

A shop owner in Ashford has hit back at inspectors after they gave him a one-star hygiene rating. 

He was found to have out of date products on the shelf but insists it was a one off accident. 

And in sport, a great result for Gillingham in their EFL Trophy clash against Leyton Orient. 

Hear manager Neil Harris' reaction to the 2 -1 win. 

Tributes have been paid to a dad-of-two who has died in hospital more that seven months after a crash.

Emmanuel Gotora was seriously injured when the car he was driving hit a tree on Dane Valley Road in January.

Also in today's podcast, two schools in Kent have been forced to close as the crumbling concrete crisis continues.

Palmarsh Primary in Hythe is shut completely - while some students at  St James Church of England Primary in Tunbridge Wells won't be able to attend classes.

Hear from the man in charge of education at the county council.

If you live in Medway you're going to be asked where thousands of homes could be built.

They've been set a target of more than 28,000 by 2040 - which will see the authority come up with what's known as a local plan.

The deputy leader of the local of the local authority has been explaining more.

It's 10 years since more than 100 vehicles were involved in a crash on the Sheppey Crossing.

The collision happened in thick fog - but miraculously no one was killed.

Reporter Megan Carr has been speaking to those involved in the collision and emergency crews who were called to help.

And in sport, Gillingham boss Neil Harris has been nominated for the League Two manager of the month award from August.

The Gills won five of their seven games last month.

A Margate thief who went on a one man crime spree has filmed his arrest and posted it on Tik Tok. 

Over the course of six months he terrorised shops and attacked police - his video has racked up thousands of view on social media. 

Also in today's podcast, we have a full list of the Kent schools impacted by the crumbling concrete crisis. 

Students across the country are facing disruption to the new school year over fears some buildings could collapse. 

A Chatham woman who has spent the last 14 years trying to get an alleyway overgrown by bramble and bushes cleared is calling on neighbours to do it themselves. 

No-one has been willing to take responsibility for the maintenance of the walkway and locals say it's become a dumping ground. 

A mother and daughter team who run an ice-cream shop in Dymchurch say they fear for the future of their business if they can't stay open for longer. 

The owners say they're missing out on trade by having to close at 5pm and have applied for permission to stay open until 10pm. 

And in sport, a disappointing day away for Gillingham after they suffered defeat in their League 2 clash at Grimsby Town. 

You can hear the reaction of manager Neil Harris.