Several staff from a Kent prison have been taken to hospital after their canteen food was spiked with drugs. Paramedics were called to HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey last Thursday. Hear from Andy Hamlin from the Criminal Justice Workers Union. A childcare worker has described the moment a baby boy started choking on his food at an Ashford nur…

A serial conman from Maidstone has been jailed for defrauding two companies straight after leaving prison for the same offence. Darren Carvill was locked up in 2019 for taking £260,000 from his work in Strood and changed his surname when he was released. More food parcels have been handed out in Medway than any other part of Kent according to new f…

A Dymchurch woman who stabbed her husband when he fell asleep as she told him about her life problems, has avoided being sent to prison. He needed emergency treatment but pleaded with a judge not to jail his wife - blaming the outburst on menopausal symptoms. Also in today’s episode, a Kent MP says she hopes measures will be put in place urgently t…

A Gravesend mum has hit out at her son's school after receiving a letter criticising his attendance, despite the fact he was having life saving treatment. Louie Wilders missed most of Year 8 after being diagnosed with aplastic anaemia. Also in today’s episode, an Ashford woman says she has been left unable to sleep because of the stress of living i…

The Labour leader has been in Dover to explain how his party would tackle the issue of small boat crossings. Sir Keir Starmer described it as 'one of the greatest challenges we face' and confirmed he would scrap the government's Rwanda scheme. He was joined by Dover MP Natalie Elphicke who defected to the party earlier this week. Also in the podcas…

We're starting today's episode with reaction to the shock political news that Natalie Elphicke has defected to Labour. The Dover MP released a statement criticising the Prime Minister's record on tackling small boat crossings - saying he's 'failing to keep our borders safe and secure'. Hear from a leading charity in Dover that works with asylum see…

Fed-up residents say a stretch of scenic seafront is at risk of becoming a “squatter camp” if something is not done to stop campervan owners from setting up there for weeks at a time. Locals say people are practically living at the site on Sheppey and committing anti-social acts such as urinating in public. Also in today’s podcast, a shop owner has…

A Rochester woman had to undergo surgery and has been left with a broken nose after an unprovoked attack while on a night out. The 42-year-old has lost her sense of smell and taste following the assault - a man who has a history of violence against women has faced court. Also in today’s podcast, worried business owners in Medway have been left fear…

Staff at a nursery which has been open inside a recreation centre since 1996 say they have been told to “leave immediately” by new owners. Bosses at centre in Ashford have told the KentOnline Podcast they were informed via the new owner’s solicitors that they need to leave. Also in today’s podcast, you can hear from the RSPCA following a spate of a…

A Gillingham woman who has spent almost 20 years stuck in just one room of her home has told the podcast she often wishes she went to sleep and didn't wake up. Illa Smyth struggled with her mobility after skiing and horseriding accidents and now weighs 35 stone. She's paid tribute to her loving husband and she describes her quality of life. Also in…

Plans for a an 8,000 seater stadium in north Kent have been approved. It is the centre piece of a major development on brownfield land in Northfleet which also includes houses, shops, medical services and community venues. Also in today’s episode, another person has been arrested over the deaths of five people as they tried to cross the Channel to …

A Sheppey woman who scammed her bosses out of nearly £80,000 has been sent to prison. Carly Miller, 39 from Main Road in Queenborough, siphoned off company money that was meant to be used to pay suppliers. Also in today's podcast, there are calls to ban lorries from a stretch of road in Kent following a number of serious crashes. Campaigners also w…

More than 40 hair and beauty students at an academy on Sheppey have been told their past year’s work was for nothing. The pupils have been left stunned they won’t be getting a BTEC qualification despite signing up for the course and studying hard. Also in today’s podcast, an award-winning architect who designed and built his “dream home” on the Ken…

A mum-of-four who endured cancer chemotherapy after being misdiagnosed with the disease says a hospital trust “has not learned from its mistakes”. The Whitstable resident says she has “absolutely no faith in doctors” after being told by Kent and Canterbury Hospital staff she could “drop down dead” at any moment. Also in today's podcast, furious swi…

A developer has been criticised for going back on a promise to provide affordable housing in Deal. 100 properties are due be built in Cross Road and 30% were supposed to be affordable. We've been getting reaction from people who live nearby. Also in the podcast, bosses in Dartford have approved plans to build more than 12 and a half thousand homes …

An Eastenders legend is among those calling on a Kent council to reopen a playing field which residents have used for more than 100 years. John Altman, who played ‘Nasty’ Nick Cotton in the soap, says he “treasures” the land and that the green space should be preserved. Also in today's podcast, there are fears for the future of Kent's "music town",…

A Gravesend mum has issued an invitation to Rishi Sunak, saying he should come to her home and help give mental health support to her struggling 18-year-old. It comes after the Prime Minister said he wants to tackle what he described as the UK's "sicknote culture" and strip GPs of their power to sign people off work. Also in today's episode, a chil…

A coroner has highlighted missed opportunities in the care of a 23-year-old man from Broadstairs, who took his own life days after being deemed "low risk" by hospital nurses. An inquest has been held following the death of Gabriel Farmer. Also in today's podcast, there are calls for tonnes of illegal waste to be cleared from woodland near Ashford b…

Tributes have been paid to a “genuine” and “caring” 37-year-old who died hours after a severe asthma attack. The gym lover, known as “Big Man” by his friends was found unresponsive by his partner last month. Also in today's podcast, a landlord has banned vaping in his Hernhill pub because he doesn’t want customers to be put off their Sunday lunches…

A pensioner left locked out of her home in the dark believes she was ripped off by a “rogue trader” who charged a staggering £1,600 to get her into the property. The Ashford woman paid the eye-watering bill after being told the job had been carried out at the “going rate”. Also in today's podcast, a Strood family of three made homeless after a blaz…

An inquest into the death of a 12-year-old girl who suffered a severe asthma attack at a Medway school has heard how staff did their best to save her life. Pearl Unu-Arubi went into cardiac arrest at Rochester Grammar School in March last year. Also in today's podcast, a Kent MP has weighed into the debate about introducing a smacking ban. Doctors …

A would-be arsonist who tried to set fire to a police station by pouring accelerant over a front counter and throwing a lit rag later admitted he had been having "an off day". He'd had gone to Medway police station armed with a jar filled with flammable fluid. Also in today's podcast, two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the death of…

Seafront traders thrown into “turmoil” by do-not-swim warnings on two Kent beaches fear they could remain in place for years. The water on the Romney Marsh has been found to contain high levels of a bacterium that indicates the presence of human faeces. Also in today's podcast, a Maidstone mum has been left stunned after all her possessions were mo…

A 78-year-old woman had to have her lower leg amputated after her family claim she was left on a trolley in a hospital corridor for four days. She was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital with a foot infection on Good Friday which developed into sepsis. Also in today's podcast, a Rainham teacher has shared his incredible story as part of a campaign fr…

Motorists are up in arms about a hike in car park charges considered so “unreasonable” many believed it was an April Fool’s prank. Residents in Herne were previously able to park for a whole day for just £2.20, but that all came to an end when new tariffs were introduced on April 1st. Also in today's podcast, a new report has found 15 percent of Ke…