KentOnline

A major rescue operation has been carried out at Botany Bay near Margate  after 40 people got cut off by the tide.

There were reports of a naked man in the water shouting for help - hear from the RNLI team who have a warning for anyone heading to the Kent coast.

Also in today's episode, a woman and two children have been rescued by firefighters after a blaze in a shop spread to flats in Chatham.

They were taken to hospital for treatment and an investigation is underway to work out how it started.

People living in Whitstable say they have been left feeling intimidated after more than 100 teenagers gathered on the beach.

It is claimed the young people have been 'wreaking havoc' in the town, drinking alcohol and being loud.

Routine appointments have been cancelled and patient care's at a "virtual standstill" as senior doctors are out on strike.

Rail workers are also taking industrial action, causing disruption on the trains in Kent.

And an owner has been telling us how relieved she is after her cat was found under the floorboards of a house in Ramsgate, five weeks going missing.

It is thought Arthur managed to get himself stuck when workers carried out renovations at a neighbouring property.

A Faversham mum has been telling us about her struggle to find a home for her family because of soaring rental prices.

Figures show the number of houses available for less than £1,000 a month have halved in the space of a year, and estate agents say supply on the market is dwindling.

Also in today’s episode, a woman has been sentenced in court after waving an imitation firearm and scissors at staff at a pub in Gillingham.

She was angry after they refused to giver her dog a drink of water.

It’s been a year since wildfires swept Kent as temperatures went above 40 degrees in the UK for the first time.

A heatwave is continuing to grip southern Europe, and a Tunbridge Wells travel agent has been giving tips to holidaymakers who might be heading to the continent this summer.

A Tunbridge Wells breast cancer survivor has been telling us about her campaign to empower other women who've had a mastectomy.

Florence Moon was diagnosed with the disease in 2017 and struggled to come to terms with her appearance after having surgery.

And in sport, the Gillingham manager has been giving us his reaction to the defeat to Charlton in their latest pre-season friendly.

Neil Harris has also told us how pleased his is with their new defensive signing.

Business owners in Maidstone say a ban on metal shutters outside their shops will kill off the high street. 

New regulations mean the window coverings are now illegal and will have to be removed. 

Also in today's podcast, the owners of a pub in Dartford say they're switching back to cash only payments in a bid to save money. 

The Lads of the Village in Stone say the cash-only option saves them hundreds of pounds each month. 

Police are investigating reports a woman is being terrorised by a gang on teenagers near Dover. 

She claims they're throwing rocks at her house and shouting through the windows. 

A damning report has revealed conditions inside a Young Offenders Institute in Rochester are in need of urgent improvement. 

Inspectors say staff at HMYOI Cookham Wood are unable to keep children safe. 

And an abandoned shop on Sheppey is set to be the star of Channel 4 show.

The property was chosen for a makeover as part of the series Worst House on the Street. 

A mum says she faces a round trip of almost 100 miles to get her son to school after ticking the wrong box on his application form.

K'leigh Allman has admitted she made a mistake but thinks the council could have done more to alert her.

The confusion came because there is a Minster on Sheppey and also one in Thanet which is more than 40 miles away.

Also in today's podcast, a Dartford man, whose dad was stabbed to death, has launched a campaign to get bleed control kits put in as many places as possible.

Matt Lane watched as his dad bled to death after being attacked by a gang outside their home.

Families in part of Folkestone say they're being forced to live in squalor as their properties are infested with rats.

One mum has even had to move out of the flats at Neame Court over fears her baby could eat poison left out for the rodents.

Hear from three women who live there and find out what the local authority are doing.

Bosses at Kent's biggest shopping centre have been telling the podcast how they're adapting to cope with changes to spending habits.

It's more than 20 years since Bluewater first opened in a disused quarry near Dartford.

Football, and the Gillingham man is assuring fans they're working hard to sign a couple of new strikers.

The Gills lost 2-0 to Millwall in a pre-season friendly at Priestfield on Saturday. Hear from Neil Harris.

As we continue the countdown to Paris next year, a Kent Paralympian says more still needs to be done to raise the profile of disabled sport.

Will Bayley won two silver medals in the table tennis in Tokyo, and is hoping for gold at the next Games.

A BMW driver who had his car seized by police near Sandwich is calling for a track to be installed so he can practice drifting.

Warren Lees has lost his licence three times and was filming a YouTube video when he was caught "power-sliding" at a roundabout on the A256. He's been speaking to our reporter Gerry Warren.

Also in today's podcast, a Medway teacher's pleased a deal has been done over pay - but says they shouldn't have had to strike.

Unions have suspended further action after they were offered 6.5%.

A mum from Tunbridge Wells says she's scared she'll become homeless if she's forced to give up work to home school her autistic child.

Rebecca Caple's 11-year-old son Jake is still waiting for his special education plan so he's not been able to apply for a place at secondary schools.

A Kent carnival is set for a return after a five year break.

The event in Sittingbourne was last held in 2019 and then couldn't happen because of Covid. Reporter Joe Crossley has been speaking to the entrepreneur who is hoping to bring it back in 2024.

And, Sam Lawrie takes a look at everything going on in Kent this weekend.

An historic seafront lift is a step closer to reopening after plans to carry out repairs and renovations were approved.

The Leas Lift in Folkestone closed in 2017  because of issues with the braking system. Hear from a trustee of the charity that's been campaigning to bring it back into use.

Also in today's podcast, we're being warned the longest strike by junior doctors in the history of the NHS will have a significant impact on services in Kent.

They walked out at 7am and won't return to work until the same time next Tuesday. Medway GP Dr Julian Spinks has been telling the podcast why it is happening.

The new man in charge in Medway says the towns are being 'Levelled down' after £170 million of funding was pulled.

The government cash was due to be spent on infrastructure for thousands of new homes planned for the Hoo Peninsula. We've been speaking to council leader Vince Maple.

Elsewhere, protesters have gathered outside County Hall in Maidstone as they fight plans to close some of Kent's rubbish tips.

Recycling centres in Maidstone, Faversham, Dartford and Richborough are at risk as the county council looks to save money.

As a major heatwave sweeps Europe, the boss of a leading Kent garden centre has been revealing how they're trying to adapt to climate change.

Last month was the warmest June on record and temperatures in the UK hit highs of 40c last year - the hottest ever. Reporter Alex Langridge has been speaking to Tammy Woodhouse who is the managing director of Millbrook Garden Company in Gravesend and Staplehurst.

In sport, hear from the Gillingham boss following their 1-0 win over Como in their pre-season friendly.

And we've got details of results for England's women cricketers in the Ashes, and Kent's players in the county championship.

A man has had his phone knocked out of his hand by a speeding moped rider while filming him on Central Parade in Herne Bay.

Hear the moment it happened and why he is frustrated after trying to report the incident to the police.

Also in today’s episode, a vigil has been held for a 15-year-old boy who died when his e-scooter collided with a BMW near Maidstone.

Friends and family have paid tribute to Keiran Byrne who was travelling along Heath Road in Coxheath when the crash happened on Saturday night.

A decision on controversial plans to build 550 homes in Ashford is finally due to be made later this year.

Developers fist submitted plans for ‘Kingsnorth Green’ in 2015, but it has never been signed off because of environmental issues.

Thames Water bosses have appeared before a committee of MPs to explain how the company ended up with debts of £14 billion.

Britain’s biggest supplier covers areas in and around Dartford, and there is reassurance for customers about their bills.

And, a Folkestone woman has shared a video of seagulls outside her bedroom window as a warning to Londoners who are considering moving to the seaside town.

She reckons the noise could put some people off.

A teenager has found a gun while mudlarking near Sittingbourne.

Adam Gates regularly searches for finds in Milton Creek but had to call in the emergency services when he made his most recent discovery.

Also in today's podcast, tributes have been paid to a 15-year-old boy who died when his e-scooter collided with a BMW in Coxheath.

The teenager's been named as Kieran Byrne who went to Cornwalls Academy and died on Saturday night in what's been called an "avoidable tragedy". Hear from MP Craig Mackinlay.

MPs have heard the Home Office is paying for thousands of empty hotel beds reserved for asylum seekers, to avoid overcrowding at processing centres like Manston in Thanet.

Officials told the Public Accounts Committee the department keeps a "buffer" of about 5,000 beds across the UK in case of a sudden influx of Channel crossings.

Volunteers at a Kent food bank have been given body-worn cameras because of the abuse they're suffering.

Gillingham Street Angels feeds 18,000 people a month. Boss Neil Charlick has told the podcast why they have had to take action to protect staff.

It's feared rubbish will continue to pile up in part of Kent after refuse workers rejected the latest pay offer.

Members of the GMB union who collect waste in and around Canterbury are staging indefinite industrial action. Hear from one of the workers who has been on the picket line.

The Red Arrows are going to be performing a 30 minute acrobatic display off the Kent coast next month.

The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will feature wartime planes including a Hurricane and Spitfire.

The owners of a popular spot for car meet ups in Challock say they're afraid they'll be closed down after villagers complained about the noise. 

The owners of B_Road at The Stag  have put out the warning to their patrons after reports of visitors revving engines and speeding. 

Also in today's podcast, the death of a teenage boy riding an e-scooter on a road near Maidstone has been described as an avoidable tragedy. 

The fatal crash has sparked calls for  more action to stop e-scooters being ridden illegally. 

A Dartford dad wants more to be done after heavy rain caused sewage to flood his garden, covering his children's toys with dirty water. 

He says his home has been inundated five times in the last seven years and is calling on Thames Water to take action. 

Stackable pods could soon be used to tackle the number of rough sleepers on the streets of Gravesend. 

Eight units, which can be  stacked up to two stories high, have been donated as council report an increase of homelessness. 

And in sport, Kent's Tammy Beaumont will return to England's squad for the one-day international matches in the Women's Ashes.

That's despite her not being included for the recent T20 campaign. 

A carer from Ramsgate who stole thousands of pounds from vulnerable people with learning disabilities has avoided jail.

Laura Hancock abused her position to help fund a gambling addiction, but has walked free from court.

Also in today's episode, man has been arrested following a fire at a house in Faversham which police are treating as suspicious.

Two people were taken to hospital following the blaze on St Mary’s Road in the early hours of yesterday.

A weather warning for thunderstorms has been issued for part of Kent, despite the sunshine today.

Forecasters say heavy rain and lightning could cause flooding, travel disruption and power cuts.

A huge area of Kent farmland has gone up for sale for nearly £5 million.

Brogdale Farm covers 146-acres on the outskirts of Faversham, and hosts family events as well as a popular business park and the world’s largest collection of fruit trees.

And, thousands of people are heading to Detling over the next few days for the Kent County Show.

The event is in its 100th year and organisers say it will be bigger and better than every.