KentOnline

A little boy who had to have both of his legs amputated after being abused by his birth parents is going to require even further surgery.Specialists have found Tony Hudgell’s jaw isn’t growing properly after being damaged when he was a baby.We’ve been speaking to his adoptive mum Paula.Also in today’s podcast, a Syrian refugee now living in England says he’s not surprised an increasing number of people are risking their lives and crossing the Channel to Kent in small boats.Energy prices are set to go up for millions of households. We have details on the all important figures along with an explanation from Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark.Kent’s Kate French has won gold in the modern pentathlon at the Tokyo Olympics.We also have the heart-breaking message to supporters from race walker Tom Bosworth.Plus, the football season gets under way for Gillingham this weekend – hear from midfielder Olly Lee.

Five-months after the death of Sarah Everard, an inquiry is being launched in Kent looking into violence against women and girls.
Figures show a 9% rise in reports of domestic abuse in the county over the past year.
Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott thinks many more cases are going unreported.
Also in today’s podcast, a record number of asylum seekers have crossed the Channel to Kent on small boats in a single day.
Hear from Bridget Chapman from the Kent Refugee Action Network.
A man’s been arrested in Folkestone as part of an investigation into racist messages about England footballers posted online.
A Thanet man who helped to set up Skateboard GB has been speaking about a surge in the sports popularity thanks to its debut at the Olympics.
Nic Powley has been chatting to Oliver Kemp after Sky Brown won a bronze medal for Team GB at the age of just 13.
And, we have an update on how Dina Asher-Smith got on as she returned from injury to feature in the 4x100m relay heats.

Tributes have been paid to a young man who died after a night out in Rochester.Rory Baldwin went missing in the early hours of Saturday in The Vines area of the town – his body was found in nearby St Margaret’s Street the following day.Teachers from Rainham Mark Grammar School have paid their respects while friends have laid flowers.Also in today’s podcast, just over two weeks after all Covid restrictions in England were lifted, we’ve been finding out how many of you are still wearing face masks in shops.We’ve been speaking to shoppers in Maidstone, you can also hear from a virologist from the University of Kent.More than £115k has been raised for a mum from Gravesend who has been told her breast cancer has spread and is now terminal.Nicola Biddiscombe has been told a drug available in America is potentially life-extending.At the Olympics, the 19-year-old who won silver in the 800m has spoken about beating the record set by Kent’s Dame Kelly Holmes 26 years ago.Race walker Tom Bosworth from Tonbridge speaks ahead of his 20km race at the Games tomorrow.And, hear from the Gillingham boss following their final warm-up game before the new season gets under way this weekend.

A Sheppey United footballer has spoken about his decision to come out to his teammates as bisexual.
Jahmal Howlett-Mundal was given a round of applause after gathering the squad before a game.
He’s been telling the KentOnline Podcast why he felt he had to be open with them and how he hopes others in the game will be inspired.
Also in today’s episode, a farmer speaks about their on going battle with criminals as stats show Kent is one of the worst affected places for rural crime.
We’re also joined by a Matt Wilson from NFU Mutual who compiled the data.
A former councillor who sprayed graffiti over public buildings in Broadstairs has spoken after being given a conditional discharge.
And, there’s been heartbreak in Tokyo for Kent sprinter Adam Gemili – we have the details from our sports editor Matthew Panting.

A shop owner near Canterbury has been racially abused after asking customers to continue wearing a face mask.
Although restrictions were lifted a fortnight ago, Ranjit Dhaliwal has insisted that anyone coming into his store in Bridge has a face covering on.
CCTV shows one customer hurling a shopping basket at Mr Dhaliwal.
Also in today’s podcast, a body’s been found following a search for a young man who disappeared on a night out in Rochester.
The amount of money spent on spy planes over the Channel has been revealed as attempts continue to stop asylum seekers from making the dangerous crossing on small boats to Kent.
A Dartford woman has spoken out about her experience of having Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
And, race walker Tom Bosworth chats ahead of the 20km event at the Olympics in Tokyo.

Workers at a Hermes depot in Aylesford have been treated by paramedics after a chemical leak.
They suffered minor skin irritation after a substance leaked from a parcel they were handling at the site early this morning.
Hear from our reporter Sean McPolin.
Also in today’s podcast, pregnant women are being encouraged to have the Covid vaccine after a rise in the number of mums-to-be being admitted to hospital.
Holly from Maidstone gave birth to her son earlier this month and has told us how she received very little guidance on what to do for the best.
Hear from the dad of a trainee nurse from New Ash Green who disappeared in Germany 20 years ago.
24-year-old Louise Kerton was last seen at a railway station as she made her way back to Britain.
The UK’s first bison rangers have been speaking about their new job in Kent.
And, we have an update on some of Kent’s athletes competing at the Olympics in Tokyo.

Business owners in Ashford are concerned they will be left out of pocket as up to 18-months of roadworks are due to get under way.
The work on the so-called McDonald’s roundabout at the Orbital Park junction is due to start on Monday and will replace it with traffic lights.
Kentish Express news editor Dan Wright chats about the impact it’s feared the work will have on the town.
Also in today’s podcast, new figures reveal just 3% of Kent Police’s workforce come from BAME backgrounds.
The first black woman to be selected as a candidate to run for Police and Crime Commissioner has spoken out.
Students are being encouraged to consider a place at university in the county as the clearing process gets under way.
We’ve been speaking to the deputy director of the Canterbury Festival as this year’s programme of events is revealed.
And you can hear from two former Kent contestants of The X Factor as ITV confirms it has no plans for another series.

RNLI volunteers have been abused for rescuing asylum seekers from overcrowded dinghies.
The chief executive of the charity has spoken out saying it is the right thing to go to the aid of those attempting to cross the Channel to Kent.
Hear from two crew members who have been involved in rescues.
Also in today’s podcast, it’s hoped Operation Brock will be removed from the M20 by this weekend.
The contraflow was only installed just over a week ago, but MP Damian Green has told us it was never needed.
A club in Canterbury is being accused of ageism after refusing to let in a group of women wearing open-toe shoes – hear the exchange with a doorman.
We’re being encouraged to download the what3words app to help emergency services this year.
We’ve been speaking to a woman who was helped by a group of teenagers who were able to use it to guide rescue teams after she broke her pelvis.
And, coaches at Cheavon Clarke’s boxing club in Gravesend say they’re incredibly proud of him, despite his defeat at the Olympics.

The operations manager at a Kent brewery has revealed thousands of litres of beer were destroyed in a blaze. 
The Good Things Brewing Co in Tunbridge Wells was struck by lightning, destroying the building.
 
Also in today’s podcast, there’s a warning thousands of households in Kent are at risk of homelessness if temporary government funding is stopped.
We speak to Chris Thomas from homeless charity Porchlight.
 
University students in Kent have been telling us what they think about the idea of having to have both coronavirus vaccines to attend lectures.
 
And people dressed as death, the devil and Elvis have applied to work on a ghost train on Sheppey.

A 16-year-old boy has appeared in court charged with attempted murder after a teenage girl was found stabbed in Sittingbourne.
It happened near Highstead Road between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Police say the pair were known to each other.
 
Also in today’s podcast, we’ve been hearing from a Sittingbourne woman who caught Covid-19 despite being fully vaccinated.
Jenni Horn, who works at our sister newspaper The Medway Messenger, tested positive after noticing some symptoms.
 
We’ve been told all lorry drivers should be considered as essential workers – not just those delivering food. We hear from Kent’s area manager for the Road Haulage Association.
Elsewhere, the Government is being urged to create safe and legal routes for asylum seekers.
 
And scientists in Kent say their new variety of strawberry will help extend the fruit growing season.