KentOnline

Parents have been left needing to find alternative childcare arrangements after a nursery in Medway suddenly announced it was closing.

Bosses at The Sunflower Nursery in Chatham are blaming recruitment issues.

Meantime, campaigns are under way across the county to try and save 35 children's centres that are at risk of closure.

It's part of the county council's plan to save millions of pounds amid huge pressure on their budgets.

Hear from a mum who uses a Ramsgate nursery that's at risk, we've also been speaking to the manager there and the lady in charge of children's services at the county council.

Also in today's podcast, a Kent MP is promising government plans to tackle the crisis in the NHS will include recruiting more staff.

You're going to start to see adverts telling you to take photo ID if you want to vote at the local elections in May.

It will also apply to General Elections from October. Hear from bosses at Gravesham Borough Council.

The new owners of a Kent pub insist turning it into a place for car lovers won't encourage so-called boy racers...

Roger Gray and Edd Little have taken over the Halfway House in Challock, between Ashford and Canterbury.

Three teenagers have been praised for saving an elderly man who collapsed in Rainham High Street.

The Howard School sixth-formers sat down with the 81 year-old, gave him some water and carried his shopping home after he fell.

Zara Larsson's been telling our sister radio station kmfm how her new song was inspired by 80s music...

She teamed up with MNEK to write 'Can't Tame Her'.

And in sport, it was a point for Gillingham on the road at the weekend.

They drew 3-3 with Swindon - hear from manager Neil Harris.

A court's been told how a Herne Bay woman who was high on cocaine, escaped from a police car while half-naked.

Also in today's podcast, a man's been arrested following what police have called an "unexplained death" at a Kent Shopping centre.

A teenage girl has been treated in hospital after being stabbed at Kent's biggest secondary school.

Hear from the victim's dad as the police and school bosses investigate.

People living at a holiday park in Margate fear being evicted if they can't pay a year's worth of fees in one go.

Bosses at Bradgate Holiday Park say they've been left with no choice but to ask for the money after some residents defaulted on their payments.

Hear from one of the residents and what the chief exec of the company that owns the site has had to say.

Also in today's podcast, an NHS volunteer from Kent has paid tribute to two British humanitarian aid workers who have been killed in Ukraine.

Chris Parry and Andrew Bagshaw were hit by a shell while rescuing an elderly woman.

It's being claimed the food and drink sector in Kent faces a crisis - due to Brexit, Covid and the rising cost of living.

The group representing small producers in the county has spoken out and is encouraging us to shop local to try and reverse their fortunes.

Hear from the lady in charge of Produced in Kent.

But it's not all bad news for the industry, a husband and wife team have opened a new micropub in Dover.

Jason and Serena Scobel transformed the site of the Thirsty Scarecrow on the high street into the Staggered Inn.

And, find out which celeb has come face-to-face with a tiger in Kent.

People living on the site of a proposed reservoir near Canterbury could lose their homes if the plans are approved.

Hear from a lady who would have to move but says she can't afford to stay living in the area.

An Ashford man who launched an unprovoked attack on a couple in the car park of a carvery has avoided being sent to prison.

The pair were punched after leaving the Neptune pub in August 2021 - Lucy Hickmott has the story.

Also in today's podcast, the landlady of a property in Chatham says she's been left feeling vulnerable after a family of four moved in to her vacant rental property without her say-so.

Kathryn Wareham and her husband noticed the locks has been changed on the house in Beaconsfield Road and a mother and three children squatting inside - she's been telling us what happened.

A Kent woman whose husband died while scuba diving off the coast of Dover has set up a podcast for other widows to share their stories.

Mum-of-three Rosie Gill-Moss struggled to deal with her grief after losing her husband Ben in 2018.

This was one of our most read stories from the weekend - there are calls for more signs to be installed directing people to an up and coming part of Ashford.

Coachworks at Dover Place has places to eat, drink and work - but businesses there say they're not as busy as they should be. We've been speaking to the owner of two food outlets.

Former Strictly stars James and Ola Jordan have been telling the KentOnline podcast people struggled to recognise them when they put on a bit of weight.

The couple live in Kent with their two-year-old daughter Ella and have set up a new website to help people keep fit through dance.

Find out who made a surprise appearance at a music venue in Kent over the weekend.

And in sport, the Gillingham manager has been speaking after their first away win of the season.

They beat Colchester United 2-0 on Saturday.

A court's heard how a mum from Deal crashed her car with her eight year-old daughter inside - the morning after drinking at a Christmas party.

Lauren Sanders was arrested after colliding with another car last month.

Our reporter talks us through the story.

Also in today's podcast, there's more reaction to Levelling Up cash that's coming to Kent.

Sheerness is getting £20 million to transform the Beachfields area with a gym, cafe and soft play centre.

Hear from the area's MP, Gorden Henderson, who is hoping it will boost employment levels with more jobs also coming to the island.

The head teacher of a Kent school that's received its first ever 'good' rating says it's a testament to the incredible staff working there.

Richmond Academy in Sheerness has been praised by Ofsted inspectors after turning its fortunes around.

We speak to Helen Evemy, who has been in charge for the past six years.

And in football, Gillingham will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in League Two this weekend.

The owner of an Ashford chip shop has criticised a decision to close a layby, which he says has forced him to remain shut on Sundays.

A man who killed his partner's puppies during a terrifying attack at their home in Ashford has been locked up for seven years.

The two cocker spaniels died last August at the hands of 34 year-old Jimmy Smith, who's since moved to Thames Ditton in Surrey.

Our reporter talks us through what happened.

Also in today's podcast, plans to create a new wedding venue in the grounds of an 18th century country house not far from Deal seem to have split opinion.

Hear from some residents living near Ripple Court who are worried about noise disruption and extra traffic.

A decision on the proposal is due later this week.

Elsewhere, nurses in Kent have begun the first of two-days of strike action in a row over pay.

Thousands are walking across the country amid concerns under-funding and staff shortages are causing a crisis in the NHS.

We speak to two members of staff who want wages to keep up with rising inflation.

And in football, the new owner of Gillingham has told the KentOnline Podcast they could move to a new stadium in future.

Priestfield has been their home since the 1890s when they were known as New Brompton.

But Brad Galinson - who's been chatting with our sports reporter Luke Cawdell - says there are options moving forward.

Shoppers at Aldi in Sheerness have been left in tears after being wrongly accused of stealing by staff.

The supermarket's been carrying out bag searches following a rise in shoplifting, but has admitted not always doing so correctly.

Also in today's podcast, plans for a new reservoir in Kent, that's designed to secure water supplies, have gone on show.

Bosses want to build the facility in Broad Oak near Canterbury.

They say it would hold up to five billion litres of water and could be operational by as early as 2033.

In football, the new owner of Gillingham has been revealing his plans for the club after watching them win for the first time since his takeover.

Their 2-0 win over Hartlepool at Priestfield at the weekend has given fans hope of League Two survival - which unsurprisingly is Brad Galinson's immediate aim.