Home Maidstone

Maidstone

Crime commissioner fears government’s police training scheme a ‘creep towards central control’

Kent’s crime commissioner says the county’s police force already has in place ways of training officers in dealing with persistent issues.

Residents’ survey entrants could win football tickets

A council is offering a free seven-day workout and a chance to win other prizes to anyone who enters its 2024 Residents’ Survey.

Families protest against disability benefits changes

Protestors have gathered at County Hall to demonstrate against the changes to disability benefits.

Drug driver 'lost control' of car before fatal smash

A 32-year-old took eight lines of cocaine and lost control of his car before a fatal crash.

‘Losing Wilko has left shopping centre dead as a dodo’

A year ago today, Wilko started shutting stores across Kent. While several units have been filled, gaping holes have been left in some town centres.

‘It’s a win-win’: MP backs free schools project ‘countering the gender imbalance’

Girls are being encouraged to consider STEM subjects at schools.

Major employer cuts 213 jobs from Kent plant

A multinational company will shut its Kent base after 100 years at the site.

Childhood antique find set to sell for £20k

A 500-year-old engraving kept in a cupboard for the past 13 years is set to make thousands for the man who found it when he was just 11 years old.

School closed and 1,000 homes affected by water outage

A parent has called for action after water outages cause “repeated” interruptions to his daughter’s education.

Popular dessert cafe to re-open

A dessert parlour which has sat empty in a town centre for years is making a comeback.

122

Winter fuel payment: How did Kent MPs vote?

The government is set to go ahead with cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners across the country.

New use for former NatWest branch

A town has a new church with a very musical, multi-cultural congregation.

Former Kent footballer jailed after leaving girl, 2, with life-changing injuries

The family of a two-year-old who was left with life-changing injuries branded her attacker a “violent coward” after he was sentenced.

High Court date confirmed for garden village hearing

A tiny hamlet will challenge the government and a borough council in the High Court over plans for a 2,000-home garden village.

Shoplifter racks up almost 100 convictions

A prolific thief has been jailed after pleading guilty to stealing meat from shops with his girlfriend.

‘We even found a ukulele under a bed’

Staff at a hotel undergoing a £2m renovation have revealed which items guests leave behind - and why they keep coming back.

Prisoner accused of beating inmate to death ‘had psychotic disorder,’ psychologist claims

A psychologist giving evidence at a murder trial has claimed the accused prisoner most likely had a disorder such as schizophrenia.

Kent MP declares support for Tory leadership front runner

A Tory politician has decided not to back her neighbouring MP in the Conservative Party’s leadership contest and has put her support elsewhere.

Biker in his 50s dies after crash with car

The rider of a green Kawasaki motorbike has died following a crash with a white Fiat Panda.

Drivers face long detour as route set to close for a month

Motorists face a month of road closures for water main improvements near a historic church.

Man charged with rape after woman attacked near leisure complex

A man has been charged with rape and theft after a woman was attacked.

‘Really? Up to £2m for a 10-metre pavement?!’

Calls for a missing section of pavement to be installed on a busy walk-to-school route have been rejected due to red-tape and the cost.

The Kent detective who solved some of county’s most shocking crimes

From the murder of a PCSO to the killer inspired by Breaking Bad, Gavin Moss has headed some of Kent’s most high-profile police investigations.

All news

Weather for Maidstone

Things to do in Maidstone

Contact the Kent Messenger team

Find jobs in Maidstone

Latest Newspapers

Eat, Drink, Shop

Secret Drinker

Eat My Words

Sadness as top-rated pub unexpectedly shuts

A high street pub has shut its doors suddenly after 75 years of trading in a village high street.

Rumbled? ‘I’d know Secret Drinker anywhere,’ said the bloke next to me at the bar

Is it game over for Secret Drinker in the pub with the turbo-charged barmaids?

Oliver Bonas opens in city centre as popular dungaree brand eyes up nearby spot

Lifestyle shop Oliver Bonas has moved into a former Topshop, while Lucy and Yak prepares to open its first Kent store.

Read all Eat, Drink, Shop news

More Eat, Drink, Shop

Show Less

Gardens

Award-winning pub to host garden tour

'Struggling' garden centre to undergo £3m revamp

‘I just hope my dad is proud’: Family says goodbye to nursery after 30 years

‘I turned my unassuming Kent garden into a stunning mini-rainforest’

Read all Garden news

Sport

Newsletter

Head injury rules Gillingham player out for weekend match against Tranmere

Gillingham manager Mark Bonner has already ruled out one player from last weekend’s squad for this Saturday’s visit of Tranmere.

‘I’ve done it’ – James completes Channel swim

Find local news

Your local news for Kent

Find local news

Your local news for Kent

Maidstone

Crime commissioner fears government’s police training scheme a ‘creep towards central control’

Residents’ survey entrants could win football tickets

Families protest against disability benefits changes

Drug driver 'lost control' of car before fatal smash

‘Losing Wilko has left shopping centre dead as a dodo’

‘It’s a win-win’: MP backs free schools project ‘countering the gender imbalance’

Major employer cuts 213 jobs from Kent plant

Childhood antique find set to sell for £20k

School closed and 1,000 homes affected by water outage

Popular dessert cafe to re-open

Winter fuel payment: How did Kent MPs vote?

New use for former NatWest branch

Former Kent footballer jailed after leaving girl, 2, with life-changing injuries

High Court date confirmed for garden village hearing

Shoplifter racks up almost 100 convictions

‘We even found a ukulele under a bed’

Prisoner accused of beating inmate to death ‘had psychotic disorder,’ psychologist claims

Kent MP declares support for Tory leadership front runner

Biker in his 50s dies after crash with car

Drivers face long detour as route set to close for a month

Man charged with rape after woman attacked near leisure complex

‘Really? Up to £2m for a 10-metre pavement?!’

The Kent detective who solved some of county’s most shocking crimes

Weather for Maidstone

Things to do in Maidstone

Contact the Kent Messenger team

Find jobs in Maidstone

Follow us

Most popular

Town’s huge shopping centre up for sale at auction

Grieving dad to transform town centre eyesore into 27 flats in memory of son

Developer buys nine-acre plot of land to build 100 homes

‘Really? Up to £2m for a 10-metre pavement?!’

Bin day changes to help improve ‘rocky’ service

Latest Newspapers

Eat, Drink, Shop

Sadness as top-rated pub unexpectedly shuts

Sadness as top-rated pub unexpectedly shuts

Rumbled? ‘I’d know Secret Drinker anywhere,’ said the bloke next to me at the bar

Rumbled? ‘I’d know Secret Drinker anywhere,’ said the bloke next to me at the bar

Oliver Bonas opens in city centre as popular dungaree brand eyes up nearby spot

Oliver Bonas opens in city centre as popular dungaree brand eyes up nearby spot

Gardens

Award-winning pub to host garden tour

'Struggling' garden centre to undergo £3m revamp

‘I just hope my dad is proud’: Family says goodbye to nursery after 30 years

‘I turned my unassuming Kent garden into a stunning mini-rainforest’

Sport

Head injury rules Gillingham player out for weekend match against Tranmere

‘I’ve done it’ – James completes Channel swim

Gillingham look to sharpen up their act

Southall urges his Lordswood team to make their own FA Cup memories ahead of televised cup tie

Muyeye leads Kent’s resistance

Jackson takes the positives

Search our digital news archive

Education Directory

Enhance your natural beauty at Juvenology Clinic

Helpful links

Local news