Summary

  • Updates on Tuesday 14 February 2017

  1. Meningitis petition family 'ignored'published at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Neil Burdett's daughter Faye fought meningitis B but died last year, sparking a national campaign.

    Read More
  2. Have you got a story we should be investigating?published at 13:02 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Our award-winning BBC South East Investigations team has brought you stories of people smuggling, scammers, flytipping and dangerous criminals.

    We want to continue exposing people breaking the law - with your help. 

  3. Men held over ferry sex attackpublished at 12:32 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Two men are detained by Port of Dover police after a sex assault is reported on a P&O ferry.

    Read More
  4. Gills fight to stay out of relegation zonepublished at 12:10 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Oliver Turner
    Sports reporter, BBC Radio Kent

    Ahead of Chesterfield's visit to Priestfield tonight, Gills head coach Ady Pennock has called for an improved defensive performance in their battle to stay in League One. 

    BBCImage source, Getty Images

    The Gills are just four points above the relegation zone in 18th, having kept just two clean sheets in the league all season. 

    Coverage starts from 19:30 GMT on BBC Radio Kent.

  5. #ICYMI: The Best Playgroundpublished at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    This art was made to challenge our perceptions about children with life-limiting conditions.

    The Demelza Hospice proves care and support to children and parents throughout Kent, East Sussex and South East London.  

  6. Two held by police investigating sexual assault on cross-Channel ferrypublished at 11:20 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Two men have been arrested on suspicion of a sexual assault on board a cross-Channel ferry. 

    The pair, aged 46 and 25, were held after the report on Monday of an attack on board P&O's Spirit Of France ship.

    A Port of Dover Police statement said: "Port of Dover Police were called on Monday 13 February to a report of an assault on a cross-Channel ferry.

    "Officers attended and two men, one aged 46 and one aged 25, were arrested on suspicion of sexual assault. They are currently in custody."

    P&O said the allegation led to a delay in travellers disembarking the ferry, which has a capacity to carry 1,750 passengers. 

     A P&O spokesman said: "As is our standard practice, disembarkation from the ship was unfortunately delayed for 45 minutes while officers arrived to meet the individuals involved. 

    "We would like to apologise sincerely to the other passengers for any inconvenience this may have caused to their onward journeys." 

    Meanwhile, in a separate incident on the same sailing, P&O said a small fire broke out below decks on the Spirit Of France during routine maintenance work. The spokesman said it was a "small localised fire" which was extinguished by the crew within two minutes and no passengers were in danger. 

  7. Afghan interpreter Javed Hotak 'let down' by UK governmentpublished at 10:47 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    An Afghan who says he was an interpreter with British forces says the government has committed a great injustice by not granting him asylum.

    Javed Hotak said he was sent death threats by the Taliban and feared for his life if the Home Office sent him back to Afghanistan.

    He has been living illegally in Birmingham while he makes a third claim to stay.

    The Home Office said all asylum cases were considered on individual merits.

    Mr Hotak's first claim for asylum was rejected by the Home Office in 2011 after he arrived in the UK - via the Jungle in Calais - in a lorry two years earlier.  

    Read our full story here.

  8. Sussex appoint former captain as Batting Coachpublished at 10:30 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Claire Cottingham
    BBC Live reporter

    Sussex Cricket have appointed former captain Michael Yardy as the club's new batting coach.

    Yardy, who retired from professional cricket at the end of the 2015 season after spending two decades as a player with the club, has come in as batting coach for the whole player pathway, from the junior squads to the professional team. 

    Sussex Cricket have appointed former captain Michael Yardy as the club's new batting coachImage source, Getty Images

    The 36-year-old, who was born in Kent, helped Sussex win the County Championship three times, played 28 one-day internationals, and 14 Twenty20 internationals for England.

    Yardy was part of the side which won the World Twenty20 title in 2010, but returned home early from the 2011 World Cup with depression.

    He has scored almost 10,000 first-class runs for Sussex in 182 appearances, and has played 166 List A and 101 T20 matches for the county.  

  9. Police make fifth arrest after attackpublished at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Police investigating an assault in the Victoria Street area of Gillingham have made a fifth arrest.

    Kent Police and South East Coast Ambulance Service were called just after 11:45 GMT on Sunday 12 February.

    A 28-year-old man from London had suffered cuts to his head and body that are believed to have been caused by a knife. He was taken to hospital but has since been discharged.

    Yesterday a 47-year-old man from Gillingham was arrested in connection with the incident and he remains in custody.

    Two other men aged 24 and 28 and two women aged 18 and 19, all from London, have been released on bail pending further enquiries until Tuesday 25 April 2017.

    Witnesses or anyone with information are urged to call 01634 792209 quoting reference XY/6659/17 or Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

  10. Jones approves of new England captainpublished at 10:03 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Oliver Turner
    Sports reporter, BBC Radio Kent

    Former Kent and England wicket-keeper Geraint Jones says he's excited by the prospect of watching England under new Test captain Joe Root. 

    Former Kent and England wicket-keeper Geraint Jones says he's excited by the prospect of watching England under new Test captain Joe Root.Image source, Getty Images

    The 26 year-old takes over from Alastair Cook with Ben Stokes being named as vice-captain.   

  11. High pollution levels in Kentpublished at 09:09 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Lynda Hardy
    Reporter, BBC South East Today

    Pollution levels in some parts of Kent were high or very high on eight occasions last month - that's almost the figure for the whole of 2016.  

    According to Kent Air Monitoring Network, a council-funded organisation, the worst performing areas were Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Chatham. 

    The levels prompted warnings that adults and children with lung or heart problems should reduce or avoid strenuous exercise outdoors.   

  12. #ICYMI: Girl power - Gallery unveils major exhibitionpublished at 08:40 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Kathryn Langley
    BBC Live reporter

    A new exhibition's opened in Margate featuring artwork designed and created by more than 40 international female artists.   

  13. Talks aimed at ending rail dispute to take place todaypublished at 08:12 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Lynda Hardy
    South East Today reporter

    Talks between Southern rail and the RMT union over changes to the role of guards are set to take place today.

    A Southern rail worker in front of a trainImage source, Getty Images

    It's after the union yesterday claimed the equivalent of 1,000 services a year are operating without a second member of staff on board.

    It said figures showed that on nine days this year, at least 26 trains did not have an on board supervisor.

    Southern says that this only happens in exceptional circumstances, when a supervisor is unavailable. 

    Read our full story here.  

  14. Family's meningitis petition 'ignored'published at 07:57 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    The father of a two-year-old girl who died from meningitis B has accused the government of doing nothing to raise awareness of the disease.

    Read More
  15. Folkestone mum's memorial promisepublished at 07:37 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Tom Darby
    BBC Live reporter

    Six years after her baby son died, this Folkestone woman is creating a new garden to help others remember their loved ones.

  16. Biggin Hill centenary: Spitfire flight for 100-year-oldpublished at 07:19 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    A 100-year-old former RAF pilot has flown in a Spitfire to mark the centenary of a famous wartime airbase.

    Ray Roberts, from Margate, Kent, was a passenger in the twin-seat aircraft as part of the celebrations at Biggin Hill Airport.

    The airport played a pivotal role in the Battle of Britain when it served as one of the principal fighter bases.

  17. Bath time for babypublished at 06:46 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Bob Dale
    BBC Live reporter

    One of Port Lympne's new arrivals tries out a mud bath for the first time.  

  18. Sunny days are comingpublished at 06:24 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Rachel Mackley
    Weather Presenter

    It's becoming milder across the South East.

    Here's my forecast for the next couple of days.

  19. 'They've done nothing, they're too busy with Brexit'published at 06:07 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Kathryn Langley
    BBC Live reporter

    The father of a two-year-old girl from Maidstone who died from meningitis B has accused the government of doing nothing to raise awareness of the disease.

    Faye Burdett fought the disease for 11 days but died a year ago. Read our full story here.

    WARNING: You may find some images in this video upsetting.  

  20. Love is in the air...published at 06:00 Greenwich Mean Time 14 February 2017

    Claire Cottingham
    BBC Live reporter

    Happy Valentine's day - we'll be here until 22:00 GMT keeping you up to date with all the latest news, sport, travel, weather and romance in Kent.

    To kick things off here's a lovely pic of Folkestone taken by James Bambridge - it's our #photooftheday, external.

    FolkestoneImage source, James Bambridge

    Is there something you'd like to tell us about? Or have you got a lovely picture to send us? We'd love to hear from you.

    You can get in touch on Twitter, external, on Facebook, external or by sending us an email.