KentOnline

A landslide has closed a road in Swanscombe after part of the cliff collapsed, taking some of the carriageway with it.

Police and specialist firefighters were called to the scene. Hear the statement from Thames Water about the burst main which caused it.

Also in today's podcast, picket lines have been set up outside hospitals in the county as junior doctors begin four days of strike action.

NHS bosses say it's likely to cause "significant" disruption, with thousands of operations and appointments expected to be cancelled.

Union members are defending the walkout as they urge the government to improve pay, funding and staffing levels.

Elsewhere, a report has revealed the death of an 86-year-old woman at the William Harvey hospital in Ashford was avoidable.

The East Kent Trust has responded to accusations about failings in her care.

One of the victims of a serial sex attacker has spoken out about his potential release.

John Williams was found guilty of assaulting more than 20 women and girls - find out what happened when he was granted a parole hearing.

Residents in a block of flats say they're being left in the dark over whether it's going to be knocked down or not.

The developer is accused of creating more apartments than was permitted, and must now alter the building or demolish it completely.

And in sport, we have reaction from Gillingham manager Neil Harris after their match on Easter Monday.

They're aiming to keep their place in league two as we approach the end of the season.

A dad from Herne Bay has staged a protest at a McDonald's after an issue with his UberEats delivery.

David Shepherd had bought £80 worth of food but some of his order was missing when it arrived. Hear the statement we have been sent by police.

Also in today's podcast, measures have been put in place at the Port of Dover to try and avoid a repeat of last weekend's delays.

Coach operators have been asked to spread journeys over the next three days in a bid to keep congestion to a minimum.

One man who lives near Dover has been explaining how delays at the port affect their day-to-day life.

Human rights organisations are criticising the use of a barge off the coast of Dorset to house around 500 refugees.

The Home Office says it'll be 'significantly cheaper' than using hotels to accommodate people who've crossed the Channel to Kent in small boats.

A new campaign is under way aiming to support former service men and women in Kent for the next 100 years.

The RBLI already provide accommodation for 350 veterans and their families at their Centenary Village in Aylesford, but there are now plans to expand the site.

A teenager who went viral on TikTok after picking up a cobblestone near Canterbury Cathedral is now calling for it to be returned.

The girl who runs the account @ArorioArt says she took it as a joke for a video and put it straight back - but now it's gone missing.

And in sport, it's a busy Easter weekend for Gillingham as they play two games in four days.

First up, Doncaster Rovers are the visitors to Priestfield before the Gills travel to take on promotion hopefuls Northampton Town.

Controversial plans for a huge new garden town in Kent have been given the go ahead.

Council bosses have approved the first 8,500 homes at Otterpool Park which will be on and around the former Folkestone Racecourse. Hear from the council leader.

Meantime, the country's biggest wine producer has been given permission to build a new winery near Canterbury.

Chapel Down say the development just off the A2 at Bridge will create more than 400 jobs.

Also in today's podcast, the government is being accused of deliberately suggesting accommodation for asylum seekers that's inhumane and oppressive.

A Dover charity has spoken out, as the home secretary reportedly considers using a barge off the coast of Devon to house up to 500 refugees.

Hear from Kay Marsh from Samphire.

House prices in Margate have gone up a whopping 109% in the past decade, according to new research.

Figures from the Halifax show the cost of a property in the seaside town was just over £146,000 in 2012 - that had risen to £305,000 last year.

We've been getting reaction from the regional managing director at Wards estate agents.

There are concerns a Kent village could become a ghost town, with every traditional pub in the area now up for sale.

The City of London, The Ocean Inn and The Ship Inn in Dymchurch are all on the market. The owners of a micropub there have been sharing their thoughts.

And in sport, Kent get their cricket season under way tomorrow.

Hear from batting coach Alex Gidman and player Jack Leaning who have been speaking to reporter Tom Reeves.

A woman who made false allegations about a Sheppey prison officer has been locked up.

Paul Miller was arrested three times and investigated after Emma Weller set up fake social media accounts and accused him of threatening her.

In court, the 32-year-old from Nautilus Drive in Minster, was described as demanding, obsessive and manipulative. Hear from our court reporter Paul Hooper.

Also in today's podcast, two Just Stop Oil protestors who caused traffic gridlock when they climbed the QE2 bridge at the Dartford Crossing have been found guilty of causing a public nuisance.

We've got reaction to news there are going to be more teacher strikes in Kent.

98% of National Education Union members who voted in a ballot turned down a pay offer from government. Hear from an NEU member in east Kent.

Dog owners in Kent are being urged to keep their pets under control in the countryside this Easter.

A warning's been issued as research shows the cost of dog attacks on livestock has gone up 50% since before the pandemic.

The manager of a village shop near Gravesend says Evri pulling out of the store could force them to close.

Cobham Community Stores has used the parcel delivery service since 2014 and makes around £2,000 a year from it.

A family have opened a new virtual reality entertainment centre in Gravesend after being inspired by TikTok.

They noticed how popular the tech was getting online and tried it for themselves in London before starting their new business Orb in the town centre.

And in sport, the Gillingham manager is in the running for the League Two manager of the month award for March.

A Canterbury woman who fell pregnant at just 16 has told the podcast how she was determined not to be just another teenage mum on benefits.

Louise Mansell has just qualified as a primary school teacher and has been sharing her success story with reporter Gerry Warren.

Also in today's episode, it's been a nightmare start to the Easter holidays for hundreds of holidaymakers after travel chaos at the Port of Dover.

Some people waiting in queues for up to 14 hours.

There are calls for a new pedestrian crossing at a busy junction near Ashford, amid concerns someone could end up seriously injured.

A dad's set up a petition for a button to control the traffic lights where the A28 meets Bybrook Road in Kennington.

Elsewhere, it's claimed "dangerous and unacceptable" parking near a school near Sittingbourne is putting children at risk.

Grove Park primary in Bobbing is close to a new housing development, and there are no yellow lines on one side of the road.

You have probably heard of breakfast clubs for children - now one has opened on Sheppey for parents who're skipping meals to ensure their children are fed.

New research shows more than half of adults here in the South East are having to go without as the cost-of-living crisis continues.

And in sport, it was a disappointing trip to Barrow for Gillingham at the weekend.

They conceded a last minute goal to lose 2-1 on the road. Hear from an unhappy manager, Neil Harris.

There are calls for speed cameras to be installed on a stretch of the A2 where 10 people have lost their lives in crashes over the past two decades.

Also in today's podcast, bosses at a college with campuses in Medway and Maidstone say they're on target to only be using renewable energy in just two years time.

We start today's podcast with health news after it was revealed an elderly man was left waiting for more than two days in A&E at a Kent hospital - as pressure on the NHS continues.

79-year-old Geoffrey Knell spent 55 hours in a chair at the QEQM in Margate after being diagnosed with pneumonia.

Elsewhere, an inquest has been told how a Dover man was let down by mental health services in the months before his death.

A coroner's ruled there were missed opportunities by professionals to contact 25 year-old Ben Hart before he took his own life in October last year.

Hear from Medway GP Dr Julian Spinks who has been discussing the result of a major survey that reveal just 29% of people in England, Scotland and Wales say they're happy with the way the health service runs.

Also in today's podcast, owners are being warned to keep a close eye on their pets as Kent is named a dog-theft hotspot.

More than 177 cases were reported across the country last year -  American Bulldogs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and French Bulldogs were the most common breeds targeted.

A woman's been made commander of a Kent lifeboat for the first time in the station's 100 year history.

Heather Crittenden's been part of the RNLI for 11 years and is now at the helm of the Atlantic 85 at Littlestone on Romney Marsh.

And, Olly Murs has told our sister radio station, kmfm, he'd love Austin Butler to play him in a movie about his life.

Hear some of his chat with Garry and Chelsea on the breakfast show.

Heartfelt tributes are being paid to Paul O'Grady following his shock death at the age of 67.

The TV and radio star, who lived near Ashford, passed away yesterday evening.

He was well known for his love of animals and was a passionate supporter of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, visiting their site in Brands Hatch with the Queen Consort last year.

In November, he was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.

Also in today's podcast, an investigation is under way following a suspected arson attack at a former pub near Sevenoaks.

At KentOnline you can see drone pictures showing the damage to the building on South Ash Road in Ash.

Asylum seekers who cross the Channel to Kent in small boats could be housed on barges and in former RAF bases under plans being drawn up by the government.

An announcement's expected later as ministers say they want to reduce the number of refugees in hotels.

A couple who live off grid in converted shipping containers on land they own near Folkestone have been ordered to demolish their home.

Reporter Rhys Griffiths has been speaking to Dan and Stacey Bond who have lived on the site at Swingfield Minins since April last year.

And, a former soldier from Kent is embarking on an epic mission to climb Everest - despite the fact he doesn't have either of his legs.

Hari Budha Magar from Canterbury was seriously injured in an IED explosion while serving in Afghanistan in 2010.

A couple who used their life-savings for a deposit on a new-build house in Herne Bay say it's turning out to be a 'disaster'.

Alex and Dorina Marcu moved into the £350,000 property last summer but within a week, had documented dozens of problems. Hear from Alex and we have a statement from the developers.

Also in today's podcast, a couple have been charged with murder following the death of a child in Gravesend.

The two-year-old girl passed away in hospital in May 2020.

Orlando Bloom's praised the strength of the Ukrainian people during a visit to the war-torn country.

The Canterbury actor is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has met with President Zelensky.

The owner of a Medway company says he's no longer going to pitch for business in London, because of the cost of paying the Ultra Low Emission Zone charge.

Lee Murthwaite provides sound equipment for events but has to pay every time he drives into the capital because he has an older vehicle. He's been speaking to our colleagues from KMTV.

A Medway mum says she hopes to transform a pub into a community hub to tackle loneliness and isolation.

Jane Brownlow is transforming the Princes Park pub in Chatham after managing to raise enough money to buy the lease.

And, Tracey Emin has announced she wants to buy an old bathing house on Margate beach and turn it into a facility for swimmers and surfers.

Hear what she had to say to a crowd that had gathered for the official opening of her new studios in the town.

A Kent grammar school has lost its 'outstanding' rating after being inspected by Ofsted for the first time in 15 years.

Rochester Grammar has been downgraded to 'good'.

It comes as the schools watchdog comes under pressure to put inspections on hold after a head teacher took her own life.

Also in today's podcast, the government's controversial new migration policy is being debated by MPs again.

It's aimed at stopping people crossing the Channel to Kent in small boats by banning them from claiming asylum.

A Gillingham teenager says her life is in limbo after she started suffering seizures.

Shanice Waterman has described what happens while her dad has criticised why it's taking so long to get a brain scan.

Meantime, a young woman from Canterbury who suffers from a rare disease which leaves her feeling like she's burning has spoken about how it's destroyed her life.

Millie Martin's been diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome which is said to be one of the world's most painful incurable conditions.

It's the start of World Autism Acceptance week and an autistic woman from Maidstone is fighting to change the education system.

Hear from Megan Horan who suffered panic attacks, bouts of self harm and anxious meltdowns during her GCSEs.

As campaigning officially gets under way ahead of the local elections in Kent we've been speaking to our political editor Paul Francis.

We'll get to vote on May, 4 and the results will decide who's in charge of councils across the county.

And in sport, it was an incredibly win for Gillingham at the weekend.

They beat promotion chasing Carlisle United 1-0 at Priestfield. Hear from goal scorer Shaun Williams and manager Neil Harris.