Sittingbourne

Officers investigating burglaries and shopliftings in the Sittingbourne area have made a series of arrests over the last few days.

Police executed warrants and carried out proactive searches yesterday (Tuesday 7th April) following a number of reports of thefts from shops across the borough. The shopliftings relate to three reports at Co-op in Murston, one at Tesco in Canterbury Road, Sittingbourne and one at the Wilkinson store on the High Street in Sittingbourne.

Detectives investigating a reported sexual assault in Sittingbourne have issued an e-fit image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.

Police received reports that at about 2.15pm on Monday 16th March that a woman was putting her rubbish out in Onyx Drive was approached by a man. The victim had walked along a footpath to a nearby bin store. When she had finished in the store, she turned to leave when she was met by a man standing in the doorway.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) were called at approximately 11:40 am to a fire in a wooded scrubland area near the M2 motorway, between Junction 5 (Sittingbourne) and Junction 6 (Faversham), earlier today.

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.

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.