KentOnline

Five men have been jailed following two major investigations into illegal firearms in Kent.
The group have been locked up for a total of almost 40 years. Hear the moment two of them were arrested by armed police.
Also in today’s podcast, commuters say the new flexible rail ticket being introduced doesn’t go far enough.
There are concerns someone else could die on a stretch of road in Strood where a number of accidents have happened.
We’ve spoken to one resident who’s had seven vehicles end up in her garden.
It’s five years since Brexit so we’ve been asking if you would still vote the same way. Hear the result of our poll and what some of you have been saying on socials.
And a gorilla born at a wild animal park in Kent has traveled to the Congo to start a new life in the wild.

The landlord of a village pub that was destroyed in a fire has vowed to get it re-open as soon as possible.
The Green Man was completely gutted in the blaze which broke out during a storm in the early hours of last Thursday.
Alex Brooks has spoken to the KentOnline Podcast about their plans for the future after what has already been an incredibly tough year because of Covid.
Also in today’s episode, we have some of your views as a new emergency alert system is tested out by the government.
It would have made a siren go off on your phone or tablet.
Businesses in Sandwich are looking forward to next month’s Open golf championship at Royal St George’s after it was confirmed as a government test event.
A farm in Kent is going to star in a new M&S TV ad promoting local producers.
And we look ahead to England’s final group game at the Euros.
Gareth Southgate’s side take on Czech Republic at Wembley after a disappointing 0-0 draw against Scotland.
We’ve been finding out what people in a cafe in Medway think of their performances so far.

Two men have been arrested following a ram raid at a Co-op store in Medway.
It happened on the Isle of Grain in the early hours – we bring you all the information we have so far.
Also on today’s podcast, the mum of a baby boy with an incredibly rare condition is making an appeal for any experts to get in touch and help.
We speak to the fundraising boss at Demelza near Sittingbourne as Children’s Hospice Week gets underway.
Find out why a trail of brightly coloured elephants have been dotted around Maidstone.
And we have news on another great result for Kent in the T20 Blast.

A Kent hospital trust has been fined following the death of a baby.
Harry Richford was just seven days old when he passed away following a traumatic birth at the QEQM in Margate in 2017.
East Kent Hospitals admitted providing unsafe care and treatment to both Harry and his mum Sarah.
Also in today’s podcast, buses that don’t produce harmful emissions are being tested in part of Kent.
A fundraising campaign for a statue of Dame Vera Lynn on the White Cliffs of Dover has been launched. Hear from the forces’ sweetheart’s daughter.
And, Gillingham manager and proud Scotsman Steve Evans chats ahead of England’s game against Scotland at Euro2020 tonight.

The owners of a Kent pub says she’s lost everything after the building was destroyed by fire.
The blaze at The Green Man in Hodsoll Street near New Ash Green broke out in the early hours of this morning.
Hear from neighbours who saw the flames and are shocked by the damage.
Also in today’s podcast, how would you feel about working from home permanently?
The government’s said to be considering a change in the law which would mean employers would have to prove it was essential for staff to be in an office.
We’ve been speaking to Jo James from the Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce and have some of your views from posts on Facebook.
Campaigners are angry about plans for hundreds of homes in part of Medway.
And a former Kent cricketer has spoken out about his battle with alcohol and the support he’s received to now be five years sober.

The recent spell of hot, sunny weather in Kent is set to come to an abrupt end from tonight.Forecasters have issued a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms from 6pm until 9am Saturday – and it’s feared so much rain could fall in a short space of time it may cause flooding.We’ve spoken to Earl Bourner from KCC Highways to find out how prepared they are for the bad weather.Also in today’s, it’s being reported it could be made compulsory for care home workers to have the Covid vaccine.A care home manager from Maidstone has told us what she thinks and hear what some of you have been posting on our socials.A Maidstone man who was diagnosed with breast cancer in his 30s is speaking out to try and encourage other men to make sure they get any symptoms checked out.The Dover Athletic chairman says the club has been let down after losing an appeal against a £40,000 fine and 12 point deduction for failing to play games after having to furlough their management and players.Plus you can hear from the Gillingham boss who’s building his squad ahead of the new season.

Events in Kent have been cancelled and the pubs won’t be bursting at the seems during the Euros after it was confirmed the easing of all Covid restrictions has been delayed.The Prime Minister confirmed last night the date has been moved from June 21 to July 19.It’s due to a rise in cases of the Delta variant and it’s hoped the four week delay will give the NHS extra time to vaccinate more adults.Hear from Medway’s public health boss, the leader of Kent County Council and the chief exec of Faversham based brewery Shepherd Neame.Also in today’s podcast, figures have revealed a huge increase in the number of stalking cases in Kent.We’ve been getting reaction from the mum of Clare Bernal from Tunbridge Wells who was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2005.And in sport, Dover Athletic have lost an appeal against a fine and point deduction for failing to play four games during lockdown at the start of the year.

The lifting of all remaining coronavirus restrictions is expected to be delayed following a rise in cases of the Delta variant.At the time of recording today’s podcast, the Prime Minister was preparing to address the nation a week ahead of so-called ‘freedom day’.
June 21 was set out in the roadmap as the date when all social distancing could be removed – but there was always a warning that dates could change depending on the data at the time.We hear from a bride-to-be who should have celebrated her first wedding anniversary by now, and a Conservative MP who things restrictions should be eased next week no matter what.Also in today’s podcast, a Medway man has admitted lying about how he got scars on his face to avoid being labelled a violent person.Daniel Black was attacked while trying to stop a young woman from being abused – he’s spoken about how it’s affected his life.We’ve been to a luxury housing development in Medway that’s been left looking like a ghost town.And Kent have made it three wins from three in the T20 Blast.

It may be a year later than planned, but Euro2020 finally kicks off tonight.
The tournament has been delayed by 12 months because of the pandemic but fans will be hoping the good weather continues and they can watch on big screens across the county.
Our sports editor Matthew Panting has the low down on England’s group and who could be in the running to lift the trophy.
We’ll also hear from a pub boss who’s looking forward to welcoming supporters over the next few weeks.
Also in today’s episode we hear from the head of children’s services in Kent as the council says it can no longer take in anymore unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.
And, find out about the app hoping to redistribute surplus food to those who need it most.

There’s a debate today as to whether footballers should still ‘take the knee’ before matches.Ahead of the Euros kicking off tomorrow the Gillingham chairman has called for the protest to end.
It comes after some England fans booed the national team ahead of a friendly at the weekend.Hear what Gareth Southgate said at the time, from shoppers in Gillingham and what you’ve been saying on our socials.Also in today’s podcast, a Kent MP has been quizzing the Health Secretary about the government’s response to the pandemic – hear an exchange between Greg Clark and Matt Hancock.We’ve also been speaking to a leading Kent headteacher who says the decision to allow secondary school pupils to stop wearing face masks in class was ‘perverse’.Plus we have details on the result of Kent’s first game in cricket’s T20 Blast.