Local News

This Saturday (7th February) Sittingbourne FC will be welcoming Mark Lund to the home game at Woodstock Park against Walton & Hersham.

Mark is making the 400 mile trip to Sittingbourne FC to raise awareness for his son Alfie's life limiting disorder MECP2 Duplication Syndrome. Alfie is one of only a handful of children in the UK and approximately 120 in the world suffering from the syndrome.

Alfie is 7 years old and can't walk or talk and has a shortened life expectancy. It's been a tough 2 weeks due to Alfie starting with seizures and countless trips to hospital but to raise awareness of MECP2 Duplication Syndrome the family have asked football fans to donate a scarf, shirt or flag which they tie together to create a chain. The response from all four corners of the country has been overwhelming and the chain is now 2 miles long and growing by the day.

Sittingbourne FC will donate a scarf and a shirt and on Saturday the pitch will be surrounded with scarfs to raise awareness.

The club is asking all 106.9 SFM listeners and club supporters too to go along and be part of something special.

Please add to Alfie's page your likes to show support and please share: www.facebook.com/thealfielundfund.

The visit programme so far has been: Stockport County on the 10th January, Skelmersdale United on the 24th January, Sittingbourne FC on the 7th February and Mark will be off to Southport FC on the 7th March, Ashford United on the 3rd Apil and Marine FC on the 6th April.

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.

For further information please see:- www.rotary1120.org/sittingbourneinvicta/community-chest or you can email:- sittingbourneinvictarotary@live.co.uk for an application form.

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 road was closed until around 12.30pm while officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit carried out investigations at the scene.

Witnesses to the collision, or anyone who saw the vehicle prior to the collision, is asked to contact DC Claire Davey at the Kent Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit by calling 01622 798538 or alternatively they can email: sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk.

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.

The incident follows a similar report about a dead border collie found dumped in bushes in the area a couple of months before, again in a very emaciated state.

RSPCA Animal Welfare Officer, Kelly Thatcher, told SFM News: "It wasn't much of a Happy Christmas for this poor dog - who had clearly suffered leading up to his death. I was shocked at how thin he was - completely skin and bones. At first I had hoped he had died a natural death and then been dumped, but seeing how thin he was, and young, I doubt it. It was also such a callous way to dump the poor dog. Over the fence and lying among all manner of rubbish. We urge anyone with any information about this incident to let us know on 0300 123 8018."