KentOnline

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.

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested after a teenage girl was found stabbed in Sittingbourne.
Police say the pair were known to each other and they’re keen to hear from anyone who was in the area near Highstead Road between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
Hear from KentOnline’s Lauren Abbott who lives near to where police are continuing to investigate.
Also in today’s podcast, staff in 16 essential industries won’t have to isolate if they get pinged by the NHS Covid app in a bid to reduce the number of sectors affected by the so-called ‘pingdemic’.
We’ve been finding out what you think.
Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner is calling for government to rethink a decision not to give officers and staff a pay rise.
Anne-Marie has been chatting to our sister radio station kmfm.
And find out why there are claims some girls in Kent are effectively being banned from playing football.

The funeral of Kent PCSO Julia James has taken place at Canterbury Cathedral.
The 53-year-old died after being attacked while out walking her dog not far from her home in Snowdown.
This morning, people lined the streets in nearby Aylesham as the funeral procession passed by.
During the service her daughter Bethan read a poem while tributes were paid by her son, friends and colleagues.
Also in today’s podcast, the number of deaths in care homes in Kent linked to Covid has been revealed.
The chair of the Medway based National Care Association has spoken out, saying the sector was forgotten at the start of the pandemic.
A man has been arrested after a number of cars were torched in Canterbury.
Hear about a new system that’s been developed to help keep us safe at the coast.
And, almost 30 new pieces of art have gone on display in Folkestone as the Triennial gets underway, a year later than originally planned.
 

The number of asylum seekers making the dangerous journey across the Channel to Kent in small boats this year has already topped the figure for the whole of 2020.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has promised to take further action, and signed an agreement with France to increase the number of patrol boats along their coast.
Hear what’s been said in the Commons plus by an asylum group in the county.
Also in today’s podcast, a police officer has been praised for saving a man from a burning building near Folkestone.
PC Cattermole’s heroics were caught on his body cam.
There’s a warning that we’ll get more extreme weather in future after a heatwave this week led to damaging thunderstorms.
It’s been suggested that wolf-whistling is made a specific offence as part of plans to improve safety for women in children – we’ve been getting your views.
Smokers are being encouraged to light-up outside as part of a new campaign to reduce the number of smoking-related house fires in Kent.
And, Gravesend boxer Cheavon Clark has been speaking ahead of his first fight at the Tokyo Olympics.