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Podcast: Gravesend mum compares school to Belmarsh prison over 'unspeakable violence'

A Gravesend mum has likened a school to Belmarsh prison saying her children suffer from violence every week.

Alexandra Mason claims her 13-year-old twins have been punched, verbally abused, and threatened multiple times at Meopham Secondary.

The 50-year-old’s told the KentOnline Podcast she wants serious action to be taken against those responsible.

The school hasn't responded to our requests for a comment.

Also in today's podcast, there are questions about the future of several businesses in Maidstone if an historic site gets turned into flats.

A developer wants to transform the Grade-II listed Powerhub, but firms based there say it will force them to close.

Wildlife bosses have warned against Kent becoming a so-called investment zone - saying it's an attack on nature.

It was one of the announcements from the controversial mini-budget and would see planning rules made simpler, so big developments could be pushed through quicker.

Kent Wildlife Trust say 17 wildlife sites in the county could lose protected status if the plans go ahead - hear from their Chief Executive, Evan Bowen-Jones.

Elsewhere, we speak to people living in a new development in Medway who say they're shocked it's within an area that has the highest burglary rate in the county.

There were 6,500 burglaries in Kent last year - with 127 of them in the River ward.

A foundation's being set up in memory of a little boy who passed away six years after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

James O'Connor first had surgery when he was just two, after spells of being sick and feeling dizzy.

He passed away in February with his family by his side.

His dad Carl, who's from Sittingbourne, says it was important they did something in his name.

As we edge closer to Halloween, the boss of one of the biggest pumpkin-picking farms in Kent believes the craze is only getting bigger.

Our reporter Cara Simmonds has been chatting with Charles Eckley - he launched the 25-acre Pumpkin Moon in Maidstone in 2016, but because of its popularity, has since opened more sites in the county.

In football, top-of-the-table Stevenage - and former boss Steve Evans - are the visitors to Gillingham this weekend.

The Gills are down in 19th in league two but will be looking to continue their three-game unbeaten run.

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