Sittingbourne

Kent Police are appealing for witnesses following a reported arson in Mulberry Way on the Great East Hall Estate here in Sittingbourne.

It is believed a fire was deliberately set outside the address between 2pm and 3pm on Sunday (23rd February).

The 15 metre deep sink hole, that has shut the M2 between junctions 5 (Sittingbourne) and 6 (Faversham/Ashford) for the last 24 hours, is still causing traffic chaos this afternoon.

The Highways Agency has advised that they are hoping to have one lane either side open for tomorrow but there are no guarantees as urgent safety investigations continue.

Drivers heading to and from Dover are still advised to use the M20 instead.

The hole, between junctions 5 and 6, measures approximately 5 metres by 2 metres and 15 metres deep. 

A teenage burglar has been jailed for two years after stealing a car and crashing it into someone's house in Sittingbourne.

18-year-old Jimmy Avery, of Woodbury Avenue in Murston, was sentenced on Friday 31st January, at Maidstone Crown Court, to 29 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary, one of theft, taking a vehicle without authority and aggravated vehicle taking. He was also banned from driving for 12 months.

A fourth man has been arrested by detectives investigating suspected illegal cock-fighting and animal cruelty at a farm in Iwade.

Officers from Kent Police discovered up to 170 birds in a converted barn in Raspberry Hill after executing a warrant on last Monday (13th January). A number of dead cockerels were also found at the farm, as was a suspected fighting ring - known as a cockpit - and paraphernalia associated with the training of birds for fighting.

A compulsive gambler, who swindled clients out of more than £750,000 by offering incredible deals on high profile sporting events, has been jailed for three years and four months.

James Edward Maxwell, who ran three Sittingbourne-based sports memorabilia and hospitality companies, "spun a staggering web of lies in order to persuade wealthy clients and charities to hand over cash, including claims that his young son had been diagnosed with cancer" according to Kent Police.

Two men have been charged in connection with an attempted burglary at a Sittingbourne newsagent over the Christmas holiday period.

Kent Police were called at 1.15am on Monday 30th December after an alarm was triggered at Lakeside News in Todd Crescent, Church Milton. Allegedly two men were seen attempting to gain entry to the rear of the store. Patrols attended within minutes of taking the call and arrested two men. A search of the shop revealed damage to the alarm system but no entry had been gained.

The bottom half of Sittingbourne High Street (from Central Avenue downwards) remains closed following the partial collapse of the Bell Shopping Centre in high winds.

A number of vehicles have been damaged in the car parking area to the rear of the centre and behind The Sumnor and the Sports Bar (part of the Snooker Club).

Stay tuned to 106.9 SFM for further updates.

Part of Sittingbourne High Street has had to be evacuated after a partial building collapse.

Revellers in The Sumnor Weatherspoons Pub and The Snooker Sports Bar were evacuated shortly after 6.00pm this evening, following a partial collapse at the rear of their premises that formed part of the old Bell Shopping Centre.

It is understood that there were no injuries involved but that a number of vehicles have been damaged.

Updates to follow >>>>>

Kent Police are still appealing for witnesses to a serious collision in Sittingbourne on the evening of Monday 7th October.

Collision investigators attended the A2 London Road at 7.05pm, after it was reported that a man jogging outside the Coniston Hotel, who had crossed the road had been involved in a collision with a silver Mercedes CLK 320.

The man, believed to be in his 40s, suffered serious head and leg injuries and was taken by road ambulance to a London hospital.

The driver of the car was not injured.

Kent Fire & Rescue (KFRS) firefighters, from Sittingbourne fire station, were called earlier today to tackle a fire in a dutch barn in Tonge.

The KFRS we called shortly afrer 18:15hrs to the dutch barn, situated in Blacketts Road in Tonge, containing approximately 120 tonnes of bayled straw.