Sittingbourne

Two members of an organised drugs group have been jailed following the discovery of £7.7 million worth of cannabis here in Sittingbourne.

Kent Police officers discovered just over a tonne of the class B substance when they executed a search warrant at an industrial unit on Castle Road, at about 9.20am on Friday 23rd September last year (2016).

Thomas Cullen, 57, of St John's Road in Huyton, Liverpool, and Joseph Graham, 48, of no fixed address but with links to the Merseyside area, were also inside the property and arrested as a result.

Local motorists are being warned that the M2 will be closed both ways between Junction 5 (Sittingbourne) and Junction 6 (Faversham) junctions during this weekend.

The motorway will closed for carriageway strengthening between 8pm and 6am on Saturday (14th January), Sunday (15th January) and Monday (16th January).

For more information please see: roads.highways.gov.uk/.

The North Kent Coast from Kemsley to Seasalter, including Sheerness, Minster, Queenborough, Leysdown, Sittingbourne, and Faversham are on flood risk.

An Environment Agency spokesman told SFM News that: "From Wednesday (11th January) evening through to Saturday, spring tides combined with positive surges and strong wind conditions are raising the risk of some coastal flood impacts. This flood alert is therefore likely to remain in force until Saturday".

Kent Police are reminding motorists to lock their cars and remove valuables after receiving several reports of theft from vehicles in Kemsley.

Between 5.30am and 6am on Tuesday (3rd January) Kent Police received reports of theft of property including clothing and tools from five cars in Beauvoir Drive.

Police would like to speak to a man who was reported to have been trying car door handles in the road at the time before running off. He is described as white, aged between 15 and 25 years old, 5ft 8in, of medium build and wearing a blue bomber jacket, and dark trousers.

Kent Police are reminding residents to secure their homes during the festive period following reports of burglaries in Sittingbourne.

Officers have received more than 10 reports of burglaries in the area since the beginning of December where it was alleged that the front door has been used to gain entry into the property.

Just this last Saturday (17th December) police received a report of attempted burglary in Randle Way, Sittingbourne, where it was alleged that between 8.10am and 4pm a person attempted to gain entry into a property via the front door.

A large pothole has appeared on the main A2 (Canterbury Road) heading out of town between the Snipeshill and Swanstree Avenue traffic lights.

The hole appeared earlier today and is currently being investigated by the KCC Highways Team who are waiting for Southern Water to CCTV the sewer below the main carriageway, later this afternoon.

KCC Highways have confirmed that: "if it is found to be a water pipe that has caused it, it will be handed over to them to fix".

Local motorists have been warned to expect delays for the next month on the M2 due to ongoing roadworks.

Work is currently under way to "repair and strengthen the foundations of the carriageway to maintain safety" between junctions 5 and 6 for Sittingbourne and Faversham and is set to end on Wednesday 21st December. Lane two will be closed in both directions on either side of the central reserve and narrow lanes will be in operation in lane one and on the hard shoulder, with a 50mph speed limit in place.

Officers investigating a serious collision in Sittingbourne are appealing for witnesses.

The incident happened in Staplehurst Road at about 3.45pm on Friday (18th November) afternoon.

A four-year-old boy was taken to a London hospital after the car he was travelling in - a silver Citroen Xsara Picasso - was involved in a collision with a brick wall.

His condition is currently described as serious but stable.

Two other children in the car were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.

Kent Police are investigating a reported burglary in Sittingbourne over the weekend.

Between midnight and 7.30am on Sunday (30th October) it was alleged that two bicycles were stolen from a garden shed in Rock Road by forcing it's door lock.

A red and grey Bianchi Intenso road bike with a chrome bottom bracket and a Carrera bike were reported stolen.

The garden may have been entered using a rear alleyway that leads onto Burley Road.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) dealt with a fire involving approximately 300 tonnes of baled hay in Matts Hill Road, Hartlip earlier today (Wednesday 26th October).

Three fire engines and a bulk water carrier were sent to the scene. Fire crews used two main jets and a hose reel to prevent the fire spreading to surrounding shrubbery.