Sittingbourne

Lydd 20 Mile Race

The Sittingbourne Striders braved the 50mph winds to take part in the Lydd 20 mile race on Sunday, a fast and flat course popular with those training for the Spring marathon season, and the third race in the Striders Club Championship.

Lee Simpson was the first Strider over the line in 2hrs21mins50secs, finishing 42nd overall. Bragging rights for the first lady Strider home went to Alison Davey, who finished in 3hrs18min45secs

Dartford Half Marathon

Scott Simpson headed a strong Sittingbourne Striders group at the Dartford Half Marathon on Sunday, braving the hills and the poor weather conditions, to complete the course in 21st place overall in a fantastic time of 1hr28mins39secs. Emma Penfold was the first lady strider to cross the line in 2hrs11min57secs

Other Runners:

The Kent Police Swale Local Policing Team 3 spent some time this morning (Monday 28th January) on the Great Easthall Estate following complaints by local residents and public transport users.

Great Easthall Way, between Freeman Drive and Oak Road, was targetted in response to drivers repeatedly contravening no entry signs and using a designated 'Bus Lane'.

19 traffic offence reports were issued, which carry a £100 fine and 3 points on the driving licence for each driver concerned.

There have been long delays on the M2 motorway at Junction 5 (Sittingbourne) this afternoon, after a broken down van caught fire.

Traffic on the London-bound carriageway was held just after the Stockbury roundabout to allow emergency services to get to the scene and deal with the blaze.

The road was closed for around an hour causing long delays. No injuries have been reported.

A Sittingbourne man has been charged with theft after he was arrested by officers following a foot chase.

Shane Baker, 30, of Bluebell Drive in, Sittingbourne, has been charged with two counts of theft after being arrested on Thursday (17th January).

The charges relate to incidents on Monday 7th and Wednesday 16th January at a shop in Sittingbourne where, on both occasions, three bottles of alcohol were reported stolen.

Kent Fire And Rescue Service (KFRS) Firefighters dealt with a fire at a house in Peregrine Drive, Sittingbourne earlier today (Tuesday 15th January).

Fire crews were called at around 10.20am and had to wear breathing apparatus using two hose reel jets, a main jet and water from a local street hydrant to put the fire out.

The fire broke out in the roof space and affected the first floor of the two-storey terraced property.

There were no reported casualties and the cause of the fire is yet to be established.

A £520,000 scheme to replace a three-inch pipeline, in Pond Farm Road and Wises Lane, is set to get underway on Monday 14th January.

The pipe, which has burst 25 times in the last five years and 14 times since 2015, is set to be replaced with a larger pipe which can withstand high water pressures and deliver a more resilient drinking water supply for the future.

Two cousins have received prison sentences following a violent disturbance at a private address near Stockbury earlier this year.

At 6.20am on Saturday 5th May, William Smith, aged 29, and 23-year-old Eli Smith, went to a static caravan in a yard off the A249 occupied by two men and two women who were known to them. They smashed the patio doors and started to cause damage inside the caravan, which was also destroyed by a fire during the incident. William Smith also drove a car into some parked Transit vans owned by the victims.

The most senior bishop in the Church of England, Justin Welby The Archbishop Of Canterbury, made a surprise visit to Demelza Hospice in Bobbing on Friday (21st December).

He was given a tour by the president of Demelza Richard Oldfield and the Chief Executive Ryan Campbell and stopped to speak to children receiving palliative care and their families, as well as various kitchen, grounds and reception volunteers at the hospice.

A charity has had a welcome financial boost following a Kent Police Fun Day earlier in the year here in Sittingbourne.

In September 2018 the Kent Police Recreation Association organised the family fun day which, due to 2018 being the centenary year of World War One, was themed throughout with activities including a trench experience and wartime victory live band. Two veterans from World War Two were also guests of honour at the event.