KentOnline

Tributes are flowing in Dartford for a mum of two who died after being shot in her own home.  A murder investigation has been launched. 

Also on today's podcast, an elderly woman has been killed after a bus accident in Chatham. Emergency services were called to the Waterfront bus station yesterday afternoon. 

Elsewhere, a Faversham mum who turned her life around after spending time in prison is now facing homelessness. 

A Folkestone man who repeatedly contacted his ex and then burnt things belonging to her has avoided being sent to prison.

And, it's feared there could be traffic chaos near Sittingbourne this weekend as part of the A249 is going to be closed.

Ambulance works across Kent are out on strike again today after rejecting the government's latest pay offer - but NHS staff say patient safety is still their top priority 

Also on today's podcast,there are fresh concerns about safety at a new junction in Ashford following another crash. Drivers using the A2070 near Orbital Park have described conditions as an accident waiting to happen. 

Elsewhere, a Canterbury man who was found with steroids, cocaine and ecstasy after leading police on a dangerous car chase has avoided prison. 

A petition has been launched calling for the end of a controversial bus lane in Tunbridge Wells town centre which gathered more than 120 signatures in its first 24 hours. 

And in football, Gillingham have finished their season on a high   with a 1 - nil victory away to Salford City. You can hear the reactions of Manager Neil Harris and goal scorer Cheye Alexander. 

The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla takes place at Westminster Abbey this weekend.

Ahead of the historic event, we've been speaking to people from Kent who will all be playing a role.

The Archbishop of Canterbury explains why a coronation is needed while the King's representative in the county, the Lord Lieutenant, has been invited and tells us what she's most looking forward to.

A band from the Duke of York Royal Military School in Dover will be performing in the procession to Buckingham Palace - hear from some of the students and their director of music.

Kent is holding more street parties than almost any other part of the country - hear from the artistic director of Gravesend based Cohesion Plus who hopes the coronation will bring communities together.

Volunteering is a big part of this coronation weekend and we've been speaking to a Gravesend woman who has been recognised as a coronation champion for the work she does.

You can also hear from the manager of the RSPCA centre in Leybourne who will be welcoming volunteers this weekend.

Labour are celebrating an historic victory in the local elections, as they've taken control of Medway Council for the first time in 25 years.

Hear reaction from the new man in charge, as well as party leader Sir Keir Starmer and the outgoing Conservative leader who tells us what he thinks went wrong.

Also in today's podcast, a teacher has been banned from the profession after having an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old boy.

Kate has details of the case, including messages she sent to the pupil and a report from a panel investigating her conduct.

Elsewhere, we have a roundup of some crime and anti-social behaviour that's been happening in the county.

That includes three men who ran a prostitution ring, a homeless man who was caught by staff trying to steal diamonds from a jewellery store and two people who were arrested following a raid on a Starbucks café.

Our What's On editor Sam Lawrie has been taking a look at some of the events happening across the county this weekend.

The King's Coronation is dominating the agenda, and you can listen to our special podcast to hear more on that.

And in football, the Gillingham manager has been chatting ahead of their final game of the season.

They could have a say in the race for the play-offs with Monday's game against Salford City.

A Medway family say they're devastated after undertakers allegedly failed to refund £3,500 to their elderly mum who had handed over the cash towards a funeral plan.

The widow, who's in her 80s, gave the money to Gateway Family Funeral Services in Gillingham.  Lucy Hickmott joins us with the story.

Also in today's podcast, Thousands of you will heading to polling stations across Kent today to vote in the local elections.

It's one of the biggest ballots in decades with more than 550 seats up for grabs at 13 local authorities in the county. Hear from our political editor Paul Francis.

The future of student midwives in Kent has been thrown into doubt after their course was axed because of safety and quality concerns.

Canterbury Christ Church University's accreditation for its midwifery programme has been cancelled by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

A Gillingham based charity has revealed it's struggling to meet demand as the county suffers a shortage of guide dogs.

Neil Ewart is trustee of the Seeing Dogs Alliance and says the wait list is down to a number of factors, including high demand, low volunteer numbers and and rising bills. 

A Canterbury man who lost both his legs while serving in Afghanistan is hoping to start his mission to climb Mount Everest this week.

Hari Budha Magar wants to become the first double above-the-knee amputee reach the summit of the world's highest peak and has spoken to us from base camp.

And, we continue our countdown to the coronation by hearing from some refugees in Kent who met the  King last year.

Charles visited Kent Refugee Action Network when he was still the prince of Wales.

People in Ashford are worried that replacing cobbles in the town centre with tarmac will lead to an increase in people on e-scooters and skateboards.

The stones have been removed as part of work by the county council designed to improve the 'look and feel' of the area and improve safety - but not everyone is convinced it is a good idea.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent MP insists security forces are prepared for the challenge of the coronation, after a man was arrested outside Buckingham Palace.

He's thought to have thrown shotgun cartridges into the grounds. Hear from Tonbridge and Malling's Tom Tugendhat.

The dad of a Sittingbourne teenager who took their own life after taking a controversial acne drug, says warnings about it don't go far enough.

Melvin Sillcock thinks Roaccutane should be banned - but a report's concluded the benefits still outweigh the risks. We've been getting reaction from Medway GP Dr Julian Spinks.

We're continuing our countdown to the Coronation and today you can hear from the Archbishop of Canterbury whose job it will be to crown King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Plus, we've been finding out how one village school in Kent will be teaching pupils about the significance of the occasion.

And in sport, a big crowd's expected at Priestfield tonight for the Kent Senior Cup final.

Around 2,000 tickets have been sold for the game between Chatham Town and Margate.

Organisers of a car show in Kent over the bank holiday weekend have faced criticism after some people trying to get there were stuck in delays for more than two hours.

The BHP Performance Show took place at the county showground at Detling near Maidstone on Monday.

Also in today's podcast, some teachers in Kent are back out on strike today.

Marches were due to take place in Tunbridge Wells and Broadstairs as they call for better pay and conditions.

We've been hearing how students from East Kent College will have the opportunity to build a huge new development in Folkstone.

EKC is the largest provider of construction training in the country, and a new partnership with Otterpool Park will allow local students to work on site.  

The plans include 10,000 homes, schools, workspaces as well as green spaces and leisure, arts and culture facilities.

With the countdown to the Coronation well and truly under way - all this week, we're going to be hearing from people across the county who'll be marking the occasion.

Today, we've been speaking to a team leader at Battersea Brands Hatch where Queen Consort Camilla is patron.

And in sport, hear from the Gillingham boss Neil Harris and goalkeeper Glenn Morris following their final home game of the season.

Traders in Ashford are worried the closure of a car park could lead to anti-social behaviour.

The Park Mall site has been shut for essential maintenance, but council bosses have revealed it's impossible to say when it will reopen.

Hear from people who work in the town.

Also in today's podcast, a report's found the Met Police could be missing murders because they still hasn't learned lessons after mistakes in catching serial killer Stephen Port.

He's serving a life sentence for drugging and killing four men - including 21-year-old Daniel Whitworth from Gravesend.

There are calls for immediate action to improve conditions at a Young Offender Institution in Kent after an inspection found a quarter of boys in solitary confinement.

Cookham Wood was visited earlier this month and a damning report out today has revealed how two teenagers had been kept on their own for more than 100 days. Hear from the Chief Inspector of Prisons, plus we have reaction from the Howard League for Penal Reform.

We're being urged to take our cyber safety seriously - as part of Stalking Awareness Week.

A charity set up following the death of Clare Burnal from Tunbridge Wells, who was killed by her stalker-ex, is urging young people in particular to know the signs.

Bosses at a north Kent company who feared they were 'one flood away from going under' are now confident their future is secure.

Over the past five years, staff at Dartford Composites were regularly having to clear water every time it rained.

We've got details of everything going on in Kent this bank holiday weekend.

And in sport, hear from the Gillingham manager and defender Cheye Alexander ahead of their final home game of the season against Newport County.

It's been revealed a woman who killed her toddler twins at their home in Margate could be released on the fifth anniversary of their deaths.

Samantha Ford was sentenced in 2019 after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

Also in today's podcast, MPs have voted to back a new bill, designed to restrict people who arrive in Kent after crossing the Channel in small boats from claiming asylum.

Hear some of what was said in the Commons last night.

Some teachers in Kent are back on strike today - the first one as GCSE and A level exams get under way.

Union members are walking out today and next Tuesday in a dispute over pay. We've been speaking to John who is a secondary school teacher in Medway. You can also hear from the  education secretary.

The boss of a Maidstone marketing agency is urging more companies to become an Endometriosis Friendly Employer.

Reflect Digital has signed up to the scheme to support those suffering from the condition. Becky Simms has been describing her own experience.

There are plans to turn a double-decker bus into a well-being centre for children at a school near Gravesend.

Staff at Shears Green Juniors in Northfleet have noticed a growing number of pupils struggling with anger management, anxiety and other mental health problems since Covid.

And in sport, Gillingham have announced they'll  be paying tribute to their former owner ahead of Saturday's final home game of the season.

Tony Smith passed away last week at the age of 79.

A shopping area in Dartford has been evacuated following a bomb scare.

Police were called to reports of a suspicious package in Prospect Place at around lunchtime.

A shopping outlet in Dover is going to close for good this summer.

De Bradelei Wharf is near Wellington Docks and opened in 2002, but bosses say rising costs have made it unviable.

More than 30 members of staff will lose their jobs - we've got reaction from the chief executive of the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce.

Also in today's podcast, the government's plan to prevent small boats crossing the Channel to Kent will be debated by MPs again today.

The Illegal Migration Bill would change the law to make it clear that people who use that route will not be able to stay in the UK.

The mother of a student from Cranbrook who took her own life while at university has handed a petition to Downing Street, calling for a statutory legal duty of care for students in Higher Education

Phoebe Grime died in 2021 while studying in Newcastle - an inquest was held into the handling of the 20-year-old's mental health but her family say the results were "hugely unsatisfactory".

A firefighter has issued a warning about the dangers of leaving batteries on charge, after a devastating fire killed a dog and left a man with burns.

We've previously told you on the podcast how Kevin Record was asleep in his flat in Sheerness high street when his pet alerted him to the blaze. Hear from  Matt Deadman from Kent Fire and Rescue.

Water bosses in Kent have told the podcast that levels are in a good position - but they won't rule out bringing in a hosepipe ban if we get another heatwave this summer.

It comes as booses in the west of the country have extended restrictions, despite the UK having the wettest March in 40 years.

And in sport, Kent's Emma Raducanu has withdrawn from the Madrid Open just hours before her first-round match because of a hand injury.

The 2021 US Open champion was due to play Viktoriya Tomova this afternoon.