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The annual selection of the Sittingbourne Carnival Court was held at the Woodcoombe Sports and Social Club in Murston on Saturday (9th March).

Four young ladies entered the competition and were judged individually by Rosie Trickey from Deal, Kingsdown and Walmer Carnival Association, Lauren McCall from the Sheppey Carnival Association, Sophie-Marie Dane - former Miss European England and Mr Terry West, President of Teynham Carnival Association.

The Historical Research Group of Sittingbourne (HRGS) announced that Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, Paul Auston has agreed to become the new Honorary President of HRGS, taking over from Bill Croydon CBE, who has stepped down for family reasons.

Sittingbourne-based Chalkwell have announced that fares for bus travellers of all ages within Swale are to be slashed by up to a third.

At the same time, the local operator will be launching two additional buses which have been refurbished at a total cost of over £50k.

The selection of the new Sittingbourne Carnival Court for 2015 took place on Saturday (21st March) evening at the Woodcoombe Sports and Social Club on Church Road in Murston.

The Deputy Mayor of Swale, Cllr. Anita Walker and members from 11 other carnival associations from around Kent made up the audience of around 150 people.  

The judges were Cllr Mike Whiting, Claire Fosbeary (Asda's Community Life Champion and former Miss Sittingbourne 1990) and Leanne Martin (Miss Sittingbourne 2008, Miss Kent 2011). The  adjudicator was Cllr Sue Gent.

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". 

Police are warning Kent residents of a new scam that could result in a person's bank account being wiped out by a fraudster.

Scammers appear to be using new phone apps that allow them to use a fake caller ID in an effort to convince the person they are targeting that they are calling from a legitimate bank. It is understood that the fraudsters will telephone an individual using the phone app which makes it appear as if the caller ID matches that of the bank.

Local charity, Litter Angels, has launched a new initiative on Facebook to get members of the public to report areas of litter and work together to clean up their communities.

Kent Police has taken on 100 new cuddly recruits thanks to a generous donation by the Swale Knit and Natter Group.

Police Constable Darren Chapman visited members of the group in Sittingbourne on Wednesday 27th August to receive the new cuddly toys, which will be used under the Roads Policing Unit's Trauma Teddies scheme.

All traffic vehicles now carry the Trauma Teddies which are given to youngsters up to the age of six when they are trapped in a vehicle or involved in a collision either as a passenger or pedestrian.

Chief Inspector Tony Henley (pictured), Swale's District Commander, will have greater control of resources in the area to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour as part of a new model launched by the Chief Constable of Kent Police earlier today.

Pictured left to right: Kevin Hawkins (Regional Commercial Director, Arriva Southern Counties), Councillor John Wright (Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Swale Borough Council) and Tom Pierpoint (Public Transport Team Leader, Kent County Council).

Local bus operator Arriva has invested almost half a million pounds in four brand-new buses for its services in the Sittingbourne and Faversham areas.