KentOnline

The owner of a shop in Dover says traffic at the port is impacting trade for town centre businesses.

Robin Burkhardt says lorries are blocking roads and causing issues for residents during the busy summer holiday period.

Also in today's episode, hear from pupils at Maidstone Grammar School for Girls who are among thousands to pick up their A-Level results.

We have advice from the University of Kent for anyone who did not get the grades they were hoping for.

A protest has been held outside County Hall against plans which could lead to youth services in Kent being cut.

The county council is looking to introduce a new Family Hubs scheme but campaigners say thousands of teenagers will be left with nowhere to go.

There has been a major milestone in work to transform the Stockbury roundabout junction between the M2 and A249.

Concrete bridge beams for the new flyover have been lifted into place by huge cranes as progress continues on the 92 million pound project.

And, football fans have been celebrating across Kent after England made it through to their first ever Women's World Cup final.

They beat Australia 3-1 and will play Spain on Sunday.

The owner of an Ashford restaurant has hit back after it was given a one-star food hygiene rating.

An inspection last month found the Kennington Carvery had dirty, greasy walls and meat wasn't reheated to a safe temperature.

Also in today's episode, hear from a student nurse who has been impacted by a calculation error by Canterbury Christ Church University.

Sam Geere is one of 200 final year students who were due to get their degrees and start work, but have now been told they need to do more placement hours.

A Sittingbourne woman has been telling us about a mysterious illness which stumped doctors and took years for her family to be formally diagnosed.

Fiona Wills is going through the process of genetic testing after her mum and granddad both showed symptoms of Leukodystrophy.

The first female headteacher of an historic school says she's looking forward to getting started in September.

Kings in Canterbury has only ever had men in charge since it was first formed in 597, but now Jude Lowson is taking over.

And in football, Gillingham are top of the League 2 table after a 1-0 victory over Sutton United.

Manager Neil Harris spoke to us after the match, and said he was delight to come away with another victory.

Tributes are being paid to a 20-year-old man who died in a crash on Romney Marsh at the weekend.

Charlie Dwyer was due to become a dad, and has been described as "kindhearted and  a "loveable rogue".

Also in today's episode, figures have revealed the scale of online grooming in Kent, with more than 1,000 cases recorded in the county since 2017.

The NSPCC say most were preventable, and they are urging MPs to back the new Online Safety Bill when it finally comes back to the Commons.

There has been a rise in unemployment in Kent, according to stats out today.

A record increase in wages has also led to concerns about interest rates going up again.

A £1.25 million pound transformation to a market square in Sandwich has been met with mixed opinions.

Our reporter has been out chatting to residents and stallholders to find out what they make of the new design.

And in football, Gillingham are looking to continue their winning start to the season as they travel to take on Sutton United.

Gills boss Neil Harris has been telling us why he thinks they will be a tough team to beat.

A grieving mum says she'll keep fighting for justice after blaming her daughters death on a Kent hospital.

Six-year-old Maya Siek died at the QEQM in Margate last December when her heart suddenly stopped beating.

Also in today's episode, Rishi Sunak is under pressure to keep his promise to "stop the boats" following the deaths of six asylum seekers in the Channel.

Around 60 others were rescued when the vessel sank off the coast of France on Saturday.

A grandmother is angry about having to lose a cupboard in her kitchen to fit a water meter.

Thames Water is rolling out its compulsory smart metering programme across Swanscombe and Dartford.

A Kent theme park plans to build on its success as a music venue by hosting extra concerts next year.

27 acts are performing at Dreamland in Margate this summer - including Olly Murs, McFly and Tom Jones.

And in football, the Gillingham boss has a message for fans after the club set a new record for season ticket sales.

Neil Harris has also been giving us his thoughts on Saturday's 1-0 victory over Accrington Stanley in League 2.

Striking binmen in Canterbury are considering a pay offer - a month after first walking out.

The refuse workers have been calling for a hike in wages which would see drivers paid £15 per hour, and loaders £12 per hour.

Also in today's podcast, we have reaction from the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce to Wilko going into administration.

The retailer has 13 stores in the county and has been on our high streets since 1930.

A campaign supported by Kent artists is calling on the government to reinstall art at asylum centres.

Cartoons not Cruelty are also working with local businesses to use art to welcome refugee children. 

It comes as figures show 100,000 asylum seekers have crossed the Channel in the past five-and-a-half years since current records began.

A train carriage that's going to be converted into a café, has been craned into place at a school in Maidstone.

It will eventually be staffed by pupils at Five Acre Wood so they can learn about the hospitality industry.

Hundreds of people are expected to celebrate Margate Pride which takes place tomorrow.

This year there's a 90's feel with the likes of B*Witched, Claire Richards from Steps and Blue's Duncan James taking to the stage at Dreamland.

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

And in sport, we catch up with Robbie McKenzie and manager Neil Harris ahead of Gillingham's game against Leyton Orient at Priestfield this weekend.

Plus, we hear from a young football superstar who has been chatting about the inspirational Lionesses ahead of their quarter-final clash at the women's World Cup.

A five-year-old boy from Folkestone has died in a quad bike accident in Ireland.

 Little George Davenport was visiting his grandparents in Ireland when the tragedy happened at the weekend.

Also in today's podcast, Wilko has gone into administration putting hundreds of jobs in Kent at risk.

The retailer has 13 stores in the county and failed to secure a rescue deal after revealing financial struggles.

It's claimed plans to set up new Family Hubs in Kent will lead to an increase in anti-social behaviour.

The county council have put forward proposals to save nearly a million pounds - but it could mean 80 youth projects lose funding.

A Sheerness mum says she's 'angry and upset' after being accused of neglect when she left her sick baby in hospital to go home and look after her other two children.

Kayliegh Gadsden's newborn was in the special care baby unit at Medway Maritime - but she had a call from social services says a report had been made by medics.

Almost 200 homes in Chatham are still without electricity after a power surge caused smoke to come out of plug sockets and light switches.

Some people's TVs and fridges also broke when it happened on Tuesday.

There are concerns about the safety of a car park in Ashford as water is still dripping from the ceiling.

Work was carried out just two months ago to fix the problem at the Park Mall site in the town centre.

At KentOnline you can see the statues of two music icons that have been unveiled in Dartford.

The sculptures of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are on display at One Bell Corner on the high street.

Football, and Gillingham will face a Premier League side in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

They've been drawn away to newly promoted Luton Town after beating Southampton on Tuesday night.

Kent Police have defended their actions after four officers turned up to arrest a frail woman at her home in Maidstone.

72-year-old Mary Lou Nicholls, who needs a walking stick to get around, was detained as part of an investigation into an alleged theft.

Hear from her husband and the response from from force.

Also in today's podcast, emergency crews have been called to part of Chatham after a suspected power surge.

Seven fire engines were sent to Churchill Avenue, Wayfield Road, Montgomery Avenue, and Cunningham Crescent - we've been speaking to one man whose home was affected. Hundreds of properties are still without power.

Families are being urged to stay safe at the Kent coast this summer, as figures show more than a third of people helped by lifeguards last year were children.

The RNLI say more than 7,000 youngsters, aged between seven and 14, were aided by beach crews across the country.

Six water companies, including one that covers part of Kent, have been accused of overcharging customers and underreporting pollution incidents.

Thames Water is in charge of supplies around Dartford and among those facing legal action.

It's the final few days of the Tonnes of Tins campaign by our sister radio station kmfm, to help foodbanks across Kent cope with rising demand.

Hundreds of people have made donations over the last five weeks.

And in sport, Gillingham are  through to the next round of the Carabao Cup after beating Championship side Southampton.

The visitors to Priestfield were only relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season but suffered a 3-1 defeat. We've got reaction from Gillingham manager Neil Harris.

A landlady in Whitstable has been praised for offering a home to local families only.

Tish Neaves turned down the chance to turn it into a holiday let, and says there's been a lot of interest in the three-bedroom property.

It follows concerns about the number of houses being rented out on Airbnb, with some residents calling for more regulation.

Also in today's podcast, the family of a Medway man who's been missing for more than two weeks say they won't give up searching.

22-year-old Liam Graham was last seen on Stoke Road in Hoo in the early hours of July 22 - hear from his sister Holly.

It's understood asylum seekers who refuse to move onto a barge off the Dorset coast, could have their government support cancelled.

The vessel is being used to house those who've crossed the Channel to Kent in small boats while their applications are being processed.

Around 100 young people from Kent who're at the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea have been moved to safety.

They're now staying in hotels with the rest of the UK contingent because of extremely high temperatures. A tropical storm is also heading to the region.

A Kent foodbank say they need donations now more than ever.

A rise in interest rates announced last week is likely to make a lot of people's mortgages more expensive, putting a squeeze on household budgets. Hear from Peter Taylor-Gooby from Canterbury Foodbank.

And in sport, Gillingham play their first home game of the new season tonight.

They're in EFL Cup action against Championship side Southampton.

A Medway man who has spent almost 13 weeks in hospital, still doesn't know what's wrong.

Ben Wright started suffering severe abdominal pain before Christmas. Hear from his wife Kayleigh who has described his symptoms. We also have a statement from the hospital.

Also in today's podcast, social media firms have agreed to work closer with UK authorities as part of plans to try and stop people crossing the Channel to Kent in small boats.

The likes of TikTok, Facebook and X will remove ads posted by smuggling gangs.

London's Mayor has suggested Kent should have its own car scrappage scheme to help drivers when then Ultra Low Emission Zone expands to the county's border.

From the end of the month, anyone in an older, more polluting vehicles will have to pay to head into boroughs including Bromley and Bexley.

A Kent boy whose legs had to be amputated after he was abused as a baby is preparing to set off on an epic fundraiser.

Tony Hudgell's already raised more than £1 million by doing a walk on his prosthetics. Hear from Tony and his adoptive mum Paula - and a very special person who's sent him a good luck message.

A former WWE star has opened a new wrestling school in Tunbridge Wells.

Ayesha Raymond fell in love with the sport when All-Star Wrestling shows came to Tunbridge Wells when she was a child. Reporter Joe Crossley was put through his paces.

And in football, and it was the perfect start to the season for Gillingham.

They beat Stockport County 1-nil away from home on Saturday. Hear from manager Neil Harris.

A mum from Ashford has been telling us about her battle for a diagnosis after a minor car crash left her in "unbearable" pain.

Louise Turner has been left bedbound and her family are raising money for potentially life-changing surgery.

Also in today's episode, residents in an apartment block in Maidstone say their lives are being 'ruined' by a noisy neighbour.

One man says he hasn't had a decent night's sleep in three years, and described the flat as a "crack den".

It looks like Canterbury city centre is bouncing back from the pandemic, with five new businesses set to open.

An Oliver Bonas store is getting ready to launch where Topshop used to be, and there is also expected to be a new jewellers, cafe and restaurant.

A baker who started selling cakes from her mum's kitchen just three years ago is now opening up her first shop.

Ellie Miller has set up Ellie’s Baking Goods in Hythe, in the former Independent Baker unit on the high street.

And in sport, the Gillingham manager Neil Harris has been looking ahead to their first game of the new league two season.

They are travelling to take on Stockport County, who the boss says are the "title favourites".