KentOnline

A young woman has spoken of the moment she was attacked following the Euro2020 final – leading to a miscarriage.
Beth Newman, 18, was punched and kicked by a group of other women after leaving a pub in Margate.
She spent four days in hospital and suffered seizures.
Also in today’s podcast, nightclub bosses in Kent say they have been left in the dark about vaccine passports.
The Prime Minister is suggesting they’re introduced at the end of September for anyone wanting to go to a club.
You can also hear from our reporter who has been back to a club for the first time in 16 months.
There are calls for Operation Brock on the M20 to be removed as quickly as possible. The Ashford MP has been speaking about it in the Commons.
FareShare have been telling us about their new campaign to help feed children over the summer holidays.
And, bosses at Leeds Castle near Maidstone have been paying tribute to Pickles the swan who has died at the grand old age of 30.

All coronavirus restrictions in England have been lifted on so-called ‘Freedom Day’.
Social distancing and the wearing of face masks are no longer mandatory.
But as cases across the country continue to rise, we’ve been finding out what you think.
Hear from Carlie Pleasant from Sittingbourne who has Cystic Fibrosis and will continue to wear a face mask.
We’ve also been speaking to a wedding planner who is hoping more couples will now book their big day.
Operation Brock is back in place on the M20 as roads bosses think more people will want to head on holiday now restrictions have been lifted.
And the boss of Gillingham football club says he’s surprised restrictions have been lifted as their pre-season preparations are disrupted by Covid.
Also in today’s podcast, a cannabis farm has been found following a fire at a house in Canterbury.
A Kent athlete speaks as another Covid case is confirmed in the Olympic village ahead of the games in Tokyo.
And, the winner of The Open golf championship has lifted the Claret Jug at Royal St George’s in Sandwich.

A Green campaigner in Kent has warned that urgent action is needed as severe floods hit Europe.
Hear from Stuart Jeffery who says it’s a clear sign of the effects of climate change.
One of the towns in Germany that’s been affected is twinned with Ashford.
The council there has lowered its flag to half mast as we hear more than 100 people have lost their lives.
Also on the podcast, Operation Brock is going to be installed on the M20 this weekend ahead of ‘freedom day’ on Monday.
Roads bosses say it’s a precaution as more people could head across the Channel on holiday when Covid restrictions are lifted.
We’ve also been finding out what you think about the end of measures to restrict the spread of coronavirus.
And, a plaque has been unveiled in Medway in honour of a man who fought for democracy back in the 1800s.
William Cuffay, who was of English and African heritage, was born in the towns and got involved in the Chartist movement.
 

The owner of a popular Maidstone restaurant, bar and nightclub has released a statement after it was gutted by fire.Firefighters were called to Mu Mu on Week Street in the early hours of yesterday.Ciaran O’Quigley has described their devastation and called the blaze ‘atrocious’.Also in today’s podcast, a leading nutritionist from Whitstable has been reacting to new calls for a tax on sugary and salty foods.A government commissioned report has been published on how to try and tackle obesity and reduce the amount of junk food we eat.A year later than planned, The Open golf championship is under way at Royal St George’s in Sandwich.Hear from our sports editor who is there and a local firm who are hoping for a boost in business.And, cricketer Harry Finch has been speaking about his dream debut after being called into Kent’s first team for their championship game against Sussex following a Covid outbreak.

A popular bar, club and restaurant in the centre of Maidstone has been destroyed after a fire broke out.
Crews were called to Mu Mu on Week Street at around 2.30am.
Hear from our reporter who was one of the first on the scene – we’ve also got an update from firefighters and a resident who was woken by the blaze.
Also in today’s podcast, a former Gillingham footballer is calling for tough action to tackle racism in the game.
Goalkeeper Jason Brown has received abuse in the past and been speaking from his home in America.
And, on the eve of the Open golf championship we hear how the town of Sandwich is preparing to welcome thousands of fans.

Former Gillingham footballer Jason Brown says now is the time to take tough action to tackle racism in football.
The ex-goalkeeper suffered abuse as a player and has spoken after some of the England team were targeted following their defeat to Italy in the Euro2020 final.
More than a million people have signed a petition calling for racists to be banned from games in England for life.
Jason, who now lives in America, thinks things could go even further.
He also chats about life in the states and the possibility of one day returning to the Gills.

Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for anyone who racially abuses players to be banned from all football matches in England for life.It follows comments made towards Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho after they missed penalties in the Euro2020 final against Italy.Hear from Gurvinder Sandher from the Kent Equality and Cohesion Council and Carol Stewart who heads up the Medway African and Caribbean Association.We’ve also been asking on socials what you think and have some of your comments.Also in today’s podcast, the boss of a Kent theatre says he can’t wait to welcome full audiences back not that ‘freedom day’ has been confirmed.Social distancing will be scrapped from Monday, July 19 so auditoriums can be packed out again.There’s a treat in store for stargazers tonight – if the cloud stays away.A professor in astronomy from the University of Kent explains what we should be looking out for.And there’s Covid disruption in sport for the Gillingham squad and Kent’s cricketers.

Police had to be called in to deal with hundreds of England fans who gathered in Maidstone after their Euro2020 defeat to Italy.
Flares are said to have been set off as supporters converged on Jubilee Square following the final whistle.
Meantime, Dover’s MP has come in for criticism after suggesting England’s Marcus Rashford should have concentrated more on practicing football than getting involved in politics.
He campaigned for free school meals during the pandemic and missed a penalty last night. Our political editor has more on a leaked message by Natalie Elphicke.
Also in today’s podcast, the boss of a Folkestone hotel says Covid measures will stay in place there even after ‘freedom day’ on July 19.
Kent’s police and crime commissioner has vowed to crack down on fly-tippers who blight the countryside.
And away from some of the controversy, we hear what fans thought of last night’s Euro2020 final and have the thoughts of our sports editor.

Met police officer from Kent has admitted murdering Sarah Everard.Wayne Couzens, who lived in Deal, appeared via video link at the Old Bailey earlier.The 48-year-old had previously admitted kidnapping and raping 33-year-old Sarah who disappeared while walking home in London in March.Her body was found in woodland near Ashford a week later.Hear from Met commissioner Dame Cressida Dick and the Crown Prosecution Service.Also in today’s podcast, we’ve been for a look around Kent’s nuclear power station, Dungeness B, as work gets under way to take it offline.Summer camps are going to be running in Kent to make sure children don’t go hungry when they’re out of school.And we’ve been chatting to a Harry Kane lookalike and an Italian who lives in Kent ahead of the Euro2020 final between England and Italy this weekend.

England fans across Kent have been celebrating the team reaching the final of Euro2020.It the first time since 1966 that the national side has made the final of a major football tournament.Hear from supporters in Medway and also former footballer and chief executive of the Street Soccer Foundation, Keith Mabbutt.England face Italy in the final on Sunday.Also in today’s podcast, the boss of a pub chain in Thanet says a form of table service will remain in place even when Covid restrictions are lifted.Hear from Phil Thorley and we’ve got some of your views.Rag ‘n’ Bone Man is going to be playing a gig in Kent this summer as part of an initiative to boost music venues after the pandemic.We’re joined by Mark Davyd from the Music Venue Trust.