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A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a man in his 60s in Deal. Police were called to reports of an attack at a property in Pilots Avenue yesterday morning, and arrested a 59-year-old local man. Also in today's episode, figures have revealed which schools in Kent are the most oversubscribed. Dartford Grammar is top of the list, but there are also a number of non-selective schools facing high demand. £42 million has been spent on expanding a flood storage area in Kent as part of efforts to deal with the effects of climate change. More than 2,000 homes and businesses now have better protection thanks to the project in Leigh near Tonbridge. Residents in Folkestone who had to flee after a huge fire at the Grand Burstin hotel say they feel 'forgotten'. Some guests still haven't received compensation, with many saying they are shocked at the lack of information they have been given. A support group has re-launched in Ashford for young women and girls with ADHD. There is often a stigma around the condition, which can cause some people to struggle at school. And in football, Tom Eaves has completed a move back to Gillingham after seven years away. The striker is being brought in to boost attacking options following a series of injuries in the squad. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Kent dad who survived a cardiac arrest after being brought back to life on a football pitch is urging people to have the confidence to use a defibrillator. Kevin Smith was playing for his local team in a match at Chatham Town's stadium when he collapsed in March, and he's speaking out now to highlight the importance of learning CPR. Also in today's episode, pressure on A&E services has led to a critical incident being declared at the William Harvey hospital in Ashford. Beds are currently full, and bosses are urging us not to attend unless we have a life-threatening injury or illness. A new therapeutic garden space has opened in the grounds of Rochester Cathedral. Charities and community groups will be able to use the area to host activities, as well as growing plants and vegetables. And, hear from staff at an historic Kent estate which was used as a filming location for the new Sense and Sensibility movie. Stars including Daisy Edgar-Jones and Fiona Shaw are among those involved in the Jane Austen adaptation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's been revealed the vast majority of councils in Kent are falling short of their housebuilding targets. Numbers are set by the government to help keep up with population growth. A driver has died after their black Volkswagen Polo left the M20 carriageway and went down an embankment It happened between Junctions 8 and 9 near Leeds Castle and Ashford early yesterday morning. A Kent man who dedicated his life to helping others has continued his legacy after death by donating his organs. Jamie Curtis, a much-loved railway worker at Dover Priory station, died at 50 following a tragic accident. A husband and wife have avoided prison after assaulting a property developer and his elderly father in a long-running land dispute in Cliffsend, near Ramsgate. Wayne Clayton attacked Steven Mayhew with a rock in a sock, while Saffron Clayton punched 73-year-old Chris Mayhew as he tried to help his son. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

An Ashford builder who caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to a home he was working on has appeared in court. James Fuller took roof tiles off the property in Chilham and smashed windows after the owners ended his restoration contract. Also in today's episode, flowers have been left at the scene of a fatal crash on the A2 near Faversham. A motorcyclist died in a collision with a car in Teynham on Friday night and an 18-year-old man was arrested. A new Same-Day Emergency Care unit is opening to patients today at the QEQM Hospital in Margate. It will be aiming to treat around 100 people a day for non-life threatening injuries and illnesses, taking pressure off A&E. Tributes are being paid to a former NHS worker from Maidstone who raised thousands of pounds for research into a rare cancer. Georgie Copeman found out she had Sarcoma in April last year, after noticing a lump in her stomach. In cricket, Kent's head coach Adam Hollioake has praised his players for a "remarkable" turnaround this season. They have been promoted to division one of the county championship after their final game over the weekend. And in football, the Gillingham manager has been reacting to their 3-0 defeat at York City. There are more injury worries for the Gills after Saturday's game. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Maidstone mum has received £50,000 compensation from her hairdresser after suffering chemical burns to her scalp. The primary school teacher was treated at The Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead, requiring an emergency skin graft. Residents who were forced to leave their homes following the fire at the Grand Burstin in Folkestone have now been reunited with pets they had to leave behind... Flats near the hotel were evacuated following the blaze last weekend, as it was feared the building could collapse. A Kent teenager who spent years in agony with a rare knee condition is preparing to abseil 160 feet down a hospital after life-changing surgery. Lacey Ward from Dover is taking on the challenge to raise money for the Evelina London Children’s Hospital and thank the staff who transformed her life. Gillingham are likely to face their toughest game of the season so far this weekend. They're travelling to take on York City after winning their last three league two matches. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Firefighters have been called back to the Grand Burstin hotel in Folkestone - four days after a huge blaze. Smoke was seen coming from the site on the seafront earlier this morning. A stablehand from Borough Green has avoided prison after a dog in her care launched an attack on a horse welfare officer. Rachel Stannard was handed a suspended nine-month sentence. Residents in part of Kent have criticised plans to introduce parking charges at a medical site. Bosses want install ANPR cameras at Sittingbourne Memorial Hospital in a bid to tackle congestion. A new Same Day Emergency Care unit is going to open next week to patients at the QEQM Hospital in Margate. It aims to reduce corridor care and unnecessary admissions by treating over 100 people a day without overnight stays. Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth reacts to their loss in their opening EFL Trophy match. They were beaten 4-1 by Cambridge United at Priestfield last night. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The family of a former teacher has said she would not have taken her own life if seen by a psychiatrist and given medication for her psychosis. Carolyn Groom went missing from her home in Earl Road, Northfleet in April 2025. Two arrests have been made after hundreds of people were evacuated following a fire at a hotel in Folkestone. There was a huge emergency response following the blaze at  the Grand Burstin in the early hours of Saturday. Police say they've had success with an operation to crack down on antisocial behaviour in coastal towns in east Kent this summer... More than 350 potential troublemakers have been moved on from areas including Herne Bay, Whitstable, Margate and Broadstairs. Scientists say they've discovered why a strain of meningitis B that spread in Kent earlier this year was so dangerous... Research has found the infection had picked up small pieces of DNA from bacteria in people's throats - which helped it bypass the immune system. Southern Water's been fined 2-point-4 million pounds after admitting environmental offences in Kent... Untreated sewage, diesel and waste was released into waterways around Whitstable and Faversham between 2019 and 2021. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Families from Kent want changes to the secondary schools admissions process, after missing out on places at their four closest secondary schools. Year six pupils living around Maidstone say they have been allocated schools much further from home despite lodging local preferences. We look at the impact of the huge hotel fire at the Grand Burstin in Folkestone over the weekend. The blaze is thought to have been started deliberately. More than 100 residents, including some celebrities, joined a major demonstration calling for the water industry to be returned to public ownership in Sheppey. Southern Water says they're committed to reducing storm overflows and are using AI and other solutions to improve the network. Gillingham made it three wins in a row following a victory over Bristol Rovers at the weekend. The result leaves them fourth in the league two table, we hear from manager Gareth Ainsworth.       Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The family of a woman found dead at a hotel near Gravesend say they still have unanswered questions. Karen West was discovered at the Inn on the Lake in Shorne last December. The 49 year-old from Essex had booked a stay with her partner to celebrate their anniversary - a coroner's concluded her death was drug-related. Also in today's podcast, more than a dozen businesses in Maidstone have been closed down or evicted during a police operation to crack down on organised crime. Nine people have also been arrested over the past six months. Cigarettes, cocaine, cannabis and other drug paraphernalia have been seized. Celebrities including Danny Dyer will be taking part in a water quality protest in Kent this weekend. He'll be joined by his daughter Dani and singer Becky Hill for an event in Leysdown. It's been organised by SOS Whitstable, hear from the campaign group. Gravesend is going to be turned orange tonight as hundreds of people take to the streets for a twilight walk to raise money for a hospice. ellenor supports people with life limiting illnesses at the hospice but also in the community. And in sport, Gillingham will be hoping to make it three wins in a row in league two this weekend. Bristol Rovers are the visitors to Priestfield follows the Gills' victories against Rochdale and Tranmere Rovers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The KentOnline Podcast has been hearing from the team who're off the coast of Sheppey removing the masts from a famous bomb ship. The SS Richard Montgomery sank during World War Two with 14-hundred tonnes of explosives on board. Three masts have been sticking out of the water ever since - but they're now being removed for safety reasons. Also in today's podcast, a teenage boy who admitted adding a chip wrapper to a fire that caused millions of pounds worth of damage to a former Debenhams in Canterbury has avoided being locked up. He was a among a group who'd gone into the derelict department store before flames ripped through the building in December 2024. Business and political leaders are going to be in Kent today for major talks following a pause of plans to shake-up local government in Kent. We told you last week how the idea of scrapping the county's 14 local authorities and replacing them with four unitary ones was being put on hold. Reps from the Bank of England and the leader of Medway Council will be at a summit at the University of Kent in Canterbury. And in sport, Kent were on the verge of victory heading into day three of their county championship match against Lancashire. They limited the visitors to 192 in their second innings at Canterbury. Kent were due to resume on 84 for 2 - and only need another 56 runs to win. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Canterbury woman who punched a fellow dog walker before spitting in her face has been fined and ordered to pay compensation. Violence broke out after the 25-year-old's mastiff-type dog Enzo started attacking another woman's German Shepherd in a pedestrian area off Sturry Road. Also in today's podcast, the case of a Dartford man who was killed while on holiday in Cyprus has been raised in the Commons - 10 years on. George Low was stabbed outside a pub in Ayia Napa in 2016. Two suspects were identified, but they fled to Turkey and have never faced prosecution. The head teacher of a primary school in Kent has banned pupils from bringing in smartphones - over concerns about the impact of social media. Children who go to Wouldham All Saints Church of England school can no longer take a device that can access the internet into class. Medway Council is facing an £82 million budget gap, as costs for adult and children’s social care soar. The authority was due to be abolished as part of plans for local government reorganisation - but that's now been put on hold. Bosses have previously had to ask for extra cash from central government. The family of a teenager from Hythe who's battling cancer fear they could lose their home due to how much it's costing them to travel for treatment. Maya Nash was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma when she was just three. Despite spending five years in remission, the disease returned in 2023. And in sport, Gillingham have been beaten by Birmingham City Academy in the group stage of the Premier League Under-21 Cup. The Gills were allowed to field up to three over-age players - but hopes of Bradley Dack making a return were dashed as he's suffered “a minor setback” in his recovery from a pre-season injury. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

An investigation is underway following the death of a woman who had suffered severe burns. Diane Taylor was taken to the William Harvey in Ashford in August - but died the next day from her injuries. Officers say it's not known how the 74-year-old from Brenzett on Romney Marsh was hurt. Also in today's podcast, a police operation using live facial recognition cameras in Chatham has led to 18 arrests. We told you in last Friday's episode how CCTV vans were being deployed to scan members of the public and match them with pictures on the police database. Officers say they detained people wanted for violence and theft - as well as seizing a knuckle duster. A young man from Sheppey who lost his mum to sepsis is helping to organise a charity football match in her honour. Dawson McFarland, 20, plays for FC Bourne Knights near Sittingbourne and been using football as an outlet for his grief. Campaigners have won a three-year battle to improve a pedestrian crossing in Ashford. Buttons to request traffic to stop have now been installed at the junction between Bybrook Road and the A28. And, a bridge over the River Medway that transformed journeys for people living on either side is 10 years old today. Peters Bridge at Wouldham was opened by the Lord Lieutenant at the time, and was built as part of planning permission for an additional 1,000 homes in the area. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Four people have been treated by paramedics following a fire at a house in Maidstone. Crews in six engines were called to Northumberland Road in the Shepway part of town at about 8 this morning. An adult and a child were rescued from the building - while another adult and child were helped out by members of the public including two off-duty firefighters. Hear from our reporter Davina Jethwa who has been at the scene. Also in today's podcast, a man in his 30s is in a critical condition in hospital following an attack in Ashford. He suffered serious head injuries after being assaulted in the Lower High Street early yesterday morning. A Kent theatre has been shortlisted for a new national award. The Granville in Ramsgate re-opened in 2023 after work to remove damp and asbestos and breathe new life into the venue. It originally welcomed audiences in 1914 and is up for the 'Great Renovation' prize at the inaugural Great British Theatres Awards. We've been speaking to the CEO of the Theatres Trust. The 2026 grape harvest in Kent is set to get underway today - the earliest date ever for one of the county's wine producers. Nyetimber don't normally start picking until early October. They say the change of date is due to the long, hot summer. Hear from senior wine maker Brad Greatrix. And in sport, Gillingham made it back-to-back wins in league two at the weekend. They beat previously undefeated Tranmere Rovers 2-nil at Priestfield. We've got reaction from manager Gareth Ainsworth and defender Logan Dobbs who scored his first ever league goal. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kent Police are going to be using live facial recognition technology in Chatham to try and catch known offenders. It's part of their Clear, Hold, Build scheme which is aiming to reduce crime by getting rid of those who regularly cause trouble. Cameras are going to be set up in the town today and tomorrow. Hear from Chief Inspector Gary Woodward. Also in today's podcast, the boss of a Thanet based pub chain has hit out at plans for a new so-called tourist tax. The idea is to give regional mayors the power to introduce a charge to stay in accommodation in their area. They could then decide what the cash is invested in. We've been getting reaction from Phil Thorley who runs Thorley Taverns in Thanet. A Sheppey woman's been telling us how health anxiety has impacted her life, and made her worry about developing a serious illness. Kersty Lorton started suffering from panic attacks five years ago, and believes the condition was triggered when her auntie died from cancer. She's now started a walking group to get other women active, and has even designed her own sportswear brand. Dozens of buildings in Kent that are normally off-limits are going to be opened up over the next nine days.. Heritage Open Days is all about letting us discover some of the history on our doorstep, for free. Charles Dickens' writing chalet in Rochester and the Brook Theatre which is being renovated in Chatham are among those welcoming visitors. And it's a return to Priestfield for Gillingham in league two this weekend. They're welcoming Tranmere Rovers after securing their first win of the season last time out. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A young Kent woman with a debilitating stomach condition says she fears she could die before Christmas. Ella Rake was diagnosed with gastroparesis which means she struggles to absorb food and medication. The 22-year-old from Herne Bay now weighs between just 6 and 7 stone as the illness causes her to vomit up to 100 times a day. She's been speaking to reporter Max Chesson. Also in today's podcast, it's emerged passengers impacted by this week's air traffic control outage have been warned they are 'unlikely' to be entitled to compensation. More than 330,000 people are thought to have been affected and an investigation into what caused the issue is continuing. Hear from two people from Kent who are among those affected. The Gravesham MP has asked for Andy Burnham to back her campaign for the Gravesend to Tilbury ferry service to be restored. The ferry, linking Kent and Essex, hasn't run since 2024 after funding was pulled. For the first time in almost a thousand years - the Bayeux Tapestry has gone on show in England. The embroidery famously tells the story of events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest in 1066. But, it's also thought to have significant links to Kent. Hear from Dr Charlie Rozier who is a lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Kent. It's been revealed how AI has helped to identify a second world war bomb discovered 10 years ago by a metal detectorist in Kent. Stanley Green placed the object on a shelf in the conservatory of his home in Kemsley - and it's sat there for a decade. Earlier this week, he uploaded a picture of it to Google Lens and received a critical warning to call emergency services. And, organisers say this year's Hop Festival in Faversham provided a £3 million boost to the local economy. Tens of thousands of people attended the two-day event last weekend. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.