KentOnline

Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been done to a church in Medway following an overnight break-in.
Thieves smashed a stained glass window to get into St Margaret’s in Rainham over the weekend.
Also in today’s episode: people in Medway are joining forces to tackle racism, Gillingham celebrate a win over Sunderland in League One, but elsewhere it was a disappointing weekend for Dover.
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With less than a week to go until we vote in the general election, Boris Johnson has been in the county.
The Prime Minister held a rally near Maidstone earlier, as the Conservatives make their final attempts to win our support.
Also in today’s episode: new food, leisure and business hub opens in Ashford, little girl donates birthday presents to foodbank, and Gillingham back in league one action against Sunderland.
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New data suggests some of us are breathing air so polluted it’s as dangerous as smoking 140 cigarettes a year.Dartford, Medway and Gravesham have been identified by the British Heart Foundation as having some of the worst levels in the South East.Also in today’s episode: strike action in France could cause disruption to ferries at Dover, a Kent Olympian is speaking out about loneliness ahead of Christmas, and we’re being urged to avoid walking near water if we’re drunk.
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The candidates hoping to be elected in one of the most marginal seats in Kent will be coming under the spotlight later.
A special hustings event is taking place in Canterbury where Labour’s Rosie Duffield is taking on Anna Firth of the Conservatives, Claire Malcomson who represents the Lib Dems and Independent Michael Gould.
Also on the podcast: why we’re being encouraged to take a virtual reality trip to the moon and there was a shock at last night’s Turner Prize presentation.

Figures have revealed more than 2,200 children in Kent will be spending Christmas in temporary accommodation.Homeless charity Shelter is warning many children are living in places like B&Bs and hostels – with some families apparently “squashed into one room”.Also in today’s episode: an Ashford-based charity says a match funding scheme will help them support more single parents, the winner of the Turner Prize is due to be announced in Margate, and a little girl from Herne Bay has had the chance to sing on this year’s X Factor charity single.
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A man accused of killing a man in Medway has admitted manslaughter.The body of 39-year-old Peter Beale from Sittingbourne was found near Rochester Bridge in September last year.Also in today’s episode: a man’s died in a car fire outside a supermarket, Gillingham are through to the third round of the FA Cup, but Maidstone and Dover are out of the competition.
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The mum of a baby who was murdered by his dad in Broadstairs has spoken exclusively to KentOnline as he starts at a life sentence.McKenzie Ellis was rushed to hospital in July last year after Lee Vernon called emergency services saying his son was unconscious. The little boy died three days later.At the time, the 21 year-old claimed his son had accidentally fallen from his grip and hit himself on the arm of a sofa before falling to the floor, but medical experts found McKenzie had suffered multiple injuries on at least two occasions.Vernon’s been told he’s got to serve a minimum of 16 years.Also on the podcast: the new Bishop of Dover talks about her plans for the county, shoppers react to redevelopment plans in Canterbury and we look ahead to a busy weekend of FA Cup action for some of Kent’s sides.

Gary Rhodes has been described as a ‘leading light’ by his former Kent school, following his death.
Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay are among those paying tribute to the celebrity chef – who grew up in Gillingham – and passed away in Dubai last night.
He became a household name on TV in the nineties and noughties, and was known for his distinctive, spiky hairstyle.
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Two men have been taken to hospital after being stabbed within hours of each other in separate parts of Kent.
One was pulled from his car and attacked in Folkestone, the other was found injured in a supermarket car park in Ashford.
Also in the podcast: the police commissioner reacts to a rise in the number of victim-based offences in Kent, taxi drivers say they’re pleased Uber’s been stripped of its London licence and a footballer reveals how winning a reality TV show changed his life.