Leysdown

Environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has announced the winners of the prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Awards for summer 2025, and among them are three bathing beaches on the Isle of Sheppey.

This year the beaches which have met the high standard required to be presented with a Blue Flag, Seaside Award, or both are:

Kent Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a woman reported she was assaulted by a man in Leysdown-on-Sea on the isle Of Sheppey.

The incident happened inside a car on Leysdown Road, at around 9pm on Sunday 4th February.

The victim, who is in her 40s, was a front seat passenger in a white Peugeot 308, when it is alleged the man driving the vehicle, stopped and punched her multiple times. He then drove for a short distance before the car collided with a bollard and a fence.

People visiting Swale’s award-winning beaches this summer are being reminded to stay safe on the coast.

The beaches on the Island remain popular every year, and Swale Borough Council is again partnering with the RNLI to make sure people stay safe at Sheerness and Leysdown beaches.

Lifeguard cover began operating on Leysdown-on-Sea and Sheerness beaches seven days a week, from Saturday 8th July and will be there until Sunday 3rd September, having covered weekends and Bank Holidays since 27th May earlier this year. 

People visiting Sheerness and Leysdown beaches this weekend will see the start of this summer’s lifeguard service.

The six-week Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) weekend and bank holiday Lifeguard service starts this weekend (Saturday 28th May) at Sheerness and Leysdown beaches ahead of the summer season.

The seven days per week summer service covering Sheerness, Leysdown and Minster beaches starts on Saturday 9th  July through to Sunday 4th September.

Leysdown, Minster Leas and Sheerness beaches have all received blue flags again this year.

After meeting the highest standards for cleanliness, facilities and water quality, all three beaches have been awarded with a blue flag.

Leysdown beach has also received the Seaside Award from Keep Britain Tidy presented to England’s best beaches.

Detectives investigating drug supply in Swale have arrested and charged five people following the search of the disused Merlins nightclub on the Isle Of Sheppey.

Officers attended the building on Leysdown Road in Leysdown on Friday (10th September) afternoon, where they found four separate rooms containing a total of more than 3,000 cannabis plants.

Five men were arrested at the scene and have all been remanded in custody ahead of their appearance at Medway Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (Monday 13th September).

Officers from Kent Police's Rural Task Force are appealing for information after a barn owl was shot and killed in Leysdown.

The wild animal was taken to a rescue sanctuary on Tuesday (10th April) evening at around 7.30pm after a man and a woman reported finding the bird injured.

The animal had been shot through the chest with what was believed to be an air weapon and died the following day.

Officers would like to talk to the man and woman who found the bird as they believe they may have information which may assist them.

Two people have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the discovery of a body on the Isle of Sheppey in the early hours of Wednesday (7th August) morning.

A 44-year-old man and 43-year-old woman from the London area are currently in police custody.

The body of a man, thought to be in his 30's or 40's, was found on the beach between the Little Groves caravan site and Isle of Sheppey Holiday Village.

The death is being treated as suspicious and a murder investigation had been launched by the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate.

Kent Police are appealing for witnesses following the discovery of a man's body, by a dog walker, at 6.00am yesterday morning (Wednesday 7th August), on the Isle of Sheppey.

Officers were called to Warden Bay Road, in Leysdown, to a private beach between the Little Groves caravan site and Isle of Sheppey Holiday Village. 

A man has appeared in court after being charged by detectives investigating an armed robbery at the weekend on the Isle Of Sheppey.

25-year-old Gary Donald Grannells, of Notting Hill in London, appeared at Maidstone Magistrates' Court, on Thursday 4th July, accused of robbery at Mr G's Amusement Arcade on The Promenade, Leysdown at 12.15pm on Saturday (29th June) .