Sittingbourne

Hornhill Activity Centre, Girlguiding Sittingbourne Division's two acre site just outside Milstead village, has re-opened following a Spring clean.

Two families had to flee their homes within twelve hours of each other after fires in Rainham and Sittingbourne.

In the first incident, a bathroom extractor fan caught alight, quickly spreading to the roof area in Sandown Drive, Rainham. The resident was alerted just after 9.30pm last night (Wednesday 4th March) after hearing a loud bang. She went to investigate and discovered the fan had fallen from the ceiling into the bath below. She alerted her husband who initially tried to tackle the blaze using water from the shower with little success.

Emergency services tended to four casualties this morning, following an incident on the Isle Of Sheppey at The Kingsferry Bridge approach road, after the earlier closure of the Sheppey Crossing due to a vehicle fire.

Sittingbourne FC, in conjunction with Gillingham FC, are aiming to run a football academy next season and expressions of interest are now being accepted for those who wish to pursue post 16 studies (Year 11's this term) with a speciality of football.

Adam Lawrence, Head of Community Sports & Education Foundation at Gillingham FC, told SFM News: "We [Gillingham FC] and our Community Trust are excited by the opportunity of working in partnership with Sittingbourne FC in founding this new and exciting Academy programme". 

An elderly man has been injured following an accident with a Royal Mail van outside the Sittingbourne Sorting Office on Central Avenue earlier today (Friday 30th January) .

Police were called to the incident shortly after midday and an Ambulance and Paramedic Team also attended the scene.

Yet again the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta is looking to support other local clubs and groups in the work they are doing, in helping others and supporting the local community in the town, for 2015.

The opening date for applications is the 1st April and the closing date for receipt of applications will be 31st May.

All applications will be considered and decisions taken on merit and applications do not exclude groups who have previously been helped in the past.

Kent Police are appealing for witnesses following a fatal collision in Sheerness earlier today (Wednesday 7th January).

A blue Mazda 323F is reported to have collided with two unoccupied parked vehicles and a wall in Queensway at around 8.00am this morning.

The driver of the Mazda, a man in his 50s and from the Sittingbourne area, was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no passengers in the vehicle.

The RSPCA is appealing for information after the body of an emaciated springer spaniel was found by the side of a road in Sittingbourne.

The dead dog was discovered wrapped in a blue horse rug inside a blue and grey plastic kennel on School Lane in Iwade on Friday 27th December.

The male tan and white spaniel was found by a passing dog walker tucked behind a pipe by the side of the road. It is not known how long the body had been there, but it is thought he had probably died within the last week. It is thought he was a young adult - five years old or younger.

A man who set up a cannabis factory in his Sittingbourne home has been sent to prison.

Mark Kennett, aged 53 and previously of Harold Road in Sittingbourne, pleaded guilty to producing cannabis and possessing LSD with intent to supply after being arrested for the offences in November.

Pictured: Susan Bavin, David Bavin and the Commemoratibe VC Stone

Following on from today's Remembrance Sunday Service, at the War Memorial on Central Avenue in Sittingbourne, a special service was held to mark a VC stone dedicated to local war hero Lt Donald Dean VC.