Joe Walker

Crash Festival is relocating from Ashford to Canterbury’s Malthouse Theatre after selling out last year and more than doubling its capacity. Taking place on August 13 and 14, the event will feature visual-effects artists from Framestore and Industrial Light & Magic, comic writers Andy Lanning and Gerry Finley-Day, designers, game developers, animators and other creatives connected to major film, television, gaming and comic-book projects. The programme includes talks, workshops, networking, an indie game arcade, a creators’ market, tabletop gaming and a Wacom demonstration zone, with a particular focus on people aged 14 to 25 seeking careers in the creative industries. Tickets cost £30 to £60.

An exclusive KentOnline and KMTV poll of 1,350 people across Kent finds that 57.1% would vote Remain and 30.6% Leave if the EU referendum were held again. Among those who voted Leave in 2016, 26% would now switch to Remain, while 68.2% would vote Leave again; former Remain voters remain substantially more loyal, with 93.4% supporting Remain again. Younger people, women and residents of more prosperous or historically pro-Remain areas are most supportive of the EU, while some districts retain strong Brexit loyalty. Residents express mixed views over Brexit's effects on trade, prices, immigration, sovereignty and political accountability. Academics say public attitudes have shifted but caution that rejoining the EU would be politically and practically difficult, and a second referendum remains unlikely under current political leadership.

The Manston International Airshow has been cancelled for the second consecutive year after organisers said they could not resolve airspace and safety requirements raised in discussions with the Civil Aviation Authority. The CAA said it had not received an airspace-restriction submission or engaged with the organisers about the 2026 event. Ticket holders who deferred passes from the postponed 2025 show are expected to receive automatic refunds by the end of May, while organisers are considering a 2027 event. The show would have featured historic aircraft, aerobatic displays and potentially the RAF Red Arrows, but stricter post-Shoreham safety rules and associated airspace and road-closure requirements remain obstacles.

James Wall was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to burgling a home in Southborough near Tunbridge Wells and stealing four luxury watches, a diamond ring and foreign currency. He fled from a vehicle involved in a dangerous police chase that reached almost 100 mph, but officers identified him by his neon T-shirt and arrested him while he waited for his phone to charge in a chip shop near Bexley. Digital evidence placed him at the burglary scene, while police recovered jewellery boxes and other items from the abandoned car.

Families gathered at QEQM Hospital in Margate to mark five years of East Kent's specialist preterm birth clinic, sharing how its monitoring and interventions supported pregnancies after previous baby losses, miscarriages or cervical surgery. More than 1,300 babies have been born since the service launched in 2020 and expanded to William Harvey Hospital in Ashford. East Kent Hospitals says its preterm birth rate has fallen from 7.6 to 3.05 per 1,000, while clinicians highlight ongoing research, new technologies and holistic support for women at high risk of premature delivery.

A 16-year-old girl who was last seen in the Coppice Road area of Coxheath was found safe and well after police issued an urgent appeal for information. Officers thanked the public for their assistance.

Kyia Palmer Green discovered a large pile of fly-tipped waste, including rubbish, tyres, children’s toys, takeaway receipts, letters and suspected human faeces, while walking along Well Lane in Fordwich. She reported the incident to the council, which confirmed that environmental crime officers will investigate and pursue prosecution where possible. Canterbury City Council also warned residents to check that waste carriers are registered and retain the necessary paperwork when paying for waste removal.

Aldi has begun consulting on plans for a £7 million supermarket at Altira Park near Broomfield, Herne Bay, next to the David Lloyd leisure club and close to Sainsbury’s. The proposed store would include 122 parking spaces, electric-vehicle charging infrastructure, landscaping and biodiversity measures, and could create around 40 permanent jobs. Aldi says its existing Kings Road store would remain open. The consultation runs from December 8 to January 12, after which feedback will help shape a planning application to Canterbury City Council. While local reaction has been broadly positive, concerns have been raised about traffic around the business park and Broomfield flyover.

Patients and colleagues are mourning the sudden death of Dr Jeremy Bland, a consultant clinical neurophysiologist who worked for East Kent Hospitals for 36 years. He was internationally recognized for research into carpal tunnel syndrome, helped build a major neurophysiology service at Kent and Canterbury Hospital, and worked with NHS England to improve services nationally. Tributes describe his exceptional clinical expertise, compassion, accessibility, mentoring and commitment to patient care; the trust said his death was a major loss to his department, patients, wife and two daughters.

A family visit to Chessington World of Adventures is described as an enjoyable day out, with highlights including Mandrill Mayhem, Tiger Drop, Dragon’s Fury, Rattlesnake and the animal-focused Zufari ride. Fast passes significantly improved the experience by reducing queues, while the park’s mix of thrill rides, wildlife and themed attractions was judged more family-friendly than Thorpe Park. The review also outlines the Howl’o’ween programme, including live shows, scare zones, costume contests and the optional Enchanted Hollow experience, with tickets starting at £32 per person.

Olly Murs delivered an energetic set at Dreamland in Margate as part of his 15 Years of Hits tour, performing major songs including “Troublemaker,” “Heart Skips a Beat” and “Dance With Me Tonight.” Support act Lemar impressed with his enduring soulful voice and familiar hits. Murs also paid tribute to his late friend Caroline Flack with “Dear Darlin’.” The reviewer concludes that Murs remains one of the few television talent-show stars to sustain major commercial success and audience appeal 15 years after his breakthrough.

Kent Police has added Louis Bedingfield to its most-wanted list in connection with a false imprisonment investigation. Police say he has links to Whitstable, Thanet and Maidstone and are asking anyone who sees him to call 999 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously. He is the 33rd person on the list, which includes 32 men and one woman, while Stephen Anderson has been wanted the longest after failing to appear in court in 2016.

Around 150 firefighters and 25 fire engines responded to a major fire at a warehouse and scrapyard on Darent Industrial Park in Erith. Flames engulfed the warehouse, three diggers and numerous vehicles, producing heavy smoke that led authorities to advise local residents to keep doors and windows closed. Two 32-metre turntable ladders and a fire boat were used, and the blaze was brought under control by about 7am. Its cause remains unknown.

A reviewer describes Mamma Mia! The Party at London’s O2 as an immersive Greek-taverna experience combining a light-hearted ABBA-themed story, live singing and dancing, aerial performances, a four-course Mediterranean meal and a disco. The production is praised for its talented cast, festive atmosphere and slow-cooked beef, with the VIP upgrade recommended for better seating and wine. The experience is presented as particularly suitable for celebrations and hen parties, while also appealing to initially sceptical guests.

The A228 Whetsted Road near Paddock Wood was closed in both directions after a car hit a telegraph pole shortly before 5am, bringing power cables down into the road. Police shut the route between Maidstone Road and the Paddock Wood turn-off while emergency crews attended. It was not immediately known whether anyone was injured.

A lorry caught fire in a loading bay on Suffolk Road near The Orchards shopping centre and Aldi in Dartford shortly after 8pm on January 18, 2025. Three fire engines attended, and crews wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets to extinguish the blaze. No injuries were reported, while the cause of the fire was being treated as suspicious.

Southeastern services between Paddock Wood and Maidstone West resumed shortly after 9am on December 29, 2024, after a signalling staff member fell ill and trains were cancelled. Replacement buses had been provided during the disruption. Most other services were operating normally, although engineering work continued to affect trains between Margate and Minster.

Storm Darragh caused widespread travel disruption in Kent on 8 December 2024. The M20 was temporarily closed Londonbound after a fallen tree, Southeastern suspended services between Ashford International and Canterbury West because of a tree on the line, and rail services in west Kent faced further disruption from a signalling fault. Several local roads were also blocked by fallen trees and damaged cables. The Met Office extended a yellow weather warning until 6pm, forecasting gusts of up to 70mph around coastal areas, while police warned drivers to take care in dangerous conditions.

Southeastern reported major disruption to services in Kent on 8 December 2024 because of a signalling fault and planned engineering works. Trains between Dartford and London Victoria were diverted to Cannon Street, services between Sevenoaks and Victoria were curtailed to Orpington, no trains ran from Ramsgate, and replacement buses operated between Tunbridge Wells and Battle. Passengers were advised to check the operator’s journey planner before travelling.

Six fire engines and a specialist aerial vehicle were sent to a major house fire at Little Halstead Farm on Yelsted Lane in Boxley, near Maidstone, shortly before 4:45 a.m. The blaze heavily damaged the property, destroying much of its roof, and prompted advice for residents to avoid the area and keep doors and windows closed because of smoke. Firefighting ended shortly before 10 a.m., with crews due to return to dampen hotspots. No injuries were reported, but it was not known whether anyone was inside and the cause remained under investigation.