Ashford - latest news, breaking stories and comment - Evening Standard

The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20230823210008/https://www.standard.co.uk/topic/ashford

Ashford

Pam Ghatoray with some of the dogs rescued by Beagle Freedom Project UK (John Nguyen/PA)

Beagles held in testing laboratory for 12 years to be rehomed in UK

The Beagle Freedom Project UK said the dogs will be taken to an animal sanctuary in Kent.

By Anahita Hossein-Pour

Shirley Ballas completes her Skyathlon (UK Parachuting/PA)

Shirley Ballas completes Skyathlon saying a life saved is worth every challenge

The Strictly Come Dancing judge has completed a series of extreme tasks this week in support of the Campaign Against Living Miserably.

By Naomi Clarke

Shirley Ballas emotional after completing 700ft wing walk for suicide prevention

The Strictly Come Dancing judge reached new heights on Thursday while strapped to the top of a propeller plane.

By Naomi Clarke

Families blast ‘disgraceful’ hospital trust after mums’ herpes deaths

A coroner has criticised the NHS trust and said antiviral drugs should have been given sooner

By Anahita Hossein-Pour

Two new mothers who died with herpes should have been treated earlier – coroner

The coroner ruled out unlawful killing and neglect verdicts as she gave her summary of findings.

By Anahita Hossein-Pour

Trains disrupted as man arrested over bid to steal ATM using crane

The machine was reported stolen from a building site in Barnham, West Sussex, and police discovered a cash dispenser raid in progress nearby.

By Ben Mitchell

Hosepipe ban set for Kent and Sussex due to ‘record demand’ for water

By Anahita Hossein-Pour

Schools forced to shut amid water shortages in Kent and Sussex

By Anahita Hossein-Pour

Ex-Met Police officer not guilty of raping woman 19 years ago

By Emily Pennink

Care home surprises former rally driver with race car on 101st birthday

By Aisling Grace

‘An honest, noble and humble man’

Mother of woman who died with herpes ‘disgusted’ with NHS trust’s ‘lies’

By Laura Parnaby

Tens of thousands of junior doctors on strike across England

Retrial for former police officer over rape allegation

By Emily Pennink

Conservative MP reveals pregnancy ‘abuse’ after losing bid to stand for seat

By Patrick Daly

Met officer ‘raped woman in 2004 after flashing warrant card in club’

By Emily Pennink

Tory MPs defend former minister Green after rejection as election candidate

Damian Green failed to win selection for the new Weald of Kent constituency.

By David Hughes

Five arrested after ‘racially aggravated’ attack on Surrey schoolgirls

Three girls have so far been arrested along with a man and woman, while shocking footage of the attack has been circulated online

By Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Black girl attacked in Surrey not eating or talking - relative

By Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Protesters stage demo outside school after attack on black schoolgirl

Five people, including girls aged 11, have been arrested over the incident

By Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Search called off in Channel migrant boat tragedy

The search came to an end at 5pm on Thursday.

By Flora Thompson

Teenager believed to be among four dead in Channel migrant boat tragedy

Kent County Council leader Roger Gough said 12 of the 39 people rescued from the freezing water on Wednesday were lone migrant children.

By Flora Thompson

Channel search continues after four die in migrant boat tragedy

Ships were also asked to post lookouts as the search continued on Thursday.

By Flora Thompson

Rail services hit as first wave of strikes begin

Around half of Britain’s rail lines are closed, with other trains only running between 7.30am and 6.30pm.

By Pa Reporters

Snow and ice to continue with chance for new coldest night of the year

The Met Office issued a yellow snow and ice warning covering northern Scotland and north-east England from midnight on Tuesday until noon on Thursday.

By Pa Reporters

More than nine in 10 medically fit patients stuck in hospital beds in some areas

The trusts with the lowest rate of discharges are all in the North West.

Mourning parents’ childcare petition to be debated in Parliament

It received over 100,000 signatures.

Home Secretary told Kent is at ‘breaking point’ over migrant crisis

Council chiefs wrote to Suella Braverman setting out their concerns.

By Flora Thompson

Baby deaths: 45 infants may have lived with better care – report

An inquiry was ordered following growing concerns about quality of care.

Author of study into East Kent Hospitals deaths encourages patients to speak out

Dr Bill Kirkup spoke with the PA news agency after the report that was published.

By Laura Parnaby

Maternity failings in Kent NHS trust led to baby deaths, report says

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital and William Harvey Hospital in Ashford are facing severe criticism

By William Mata

Kwarteng was out of his depth: Tory members give views on ex-chancellor

Kwasi Kwarteng was sacked by his close friend and ideological ally Liz Truss.

Justice Secretary signals policy reforms on transgender prisoners

Brandon Lewis has said the Government has ‘a duty of care to all those behind bars’.

By Flora Thompson

Baby accidentally drowned in family friend’s hot tub, inquest hears

The death of Jetson Maffia-Kerbey was described as a “tragic accident” by the coroner

By Katie Boyden

Eurostar boss says Brexit border checks add 15 seconds per passenger

Outgoing chief executive Jacques Damas claimed long daily queues at London St Pancras are only being avoided by the company limiting capacity.

By Neil Lancefield

Tribunal called off in case of Christian GP offering patients ‘spiritual care’

Dr Richard Scott settled with NHS England following last-ditch talks.

By Katie Boyden

Man admits plotting to steal Declan Donnelly’s Range Rover

Oliver Hart, 30, was appearing at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on Friday.

By Rebecca Speare-Cole

Thousands wait for hours to catch glimpse of Queen’s coffin

The crowd was at least 30 deep in parts of central London as the funeral procession passed.

By Pa Reporters

Trains to run through night and road closures paused to ease mourners’ journeys

Around 200 daily rail services will be added to timetables while the Queen is lying in state in Westminster Hall, the PA news agency understands.

By Neil Lancefield

Eurostar says trains will not stop in Kent before 2025

Trains have not called at Ashford or Ebbsfleet since the pandemic

By Anthony France

Rail fare increase in England will be below inflation rate, Government says

The Government will not use July’s retail price index to calculate how much to raise rail fares in 2023.

By Alana Calvert

Formal talks to be held next week between Aslef and train companies

It comes amid a 24-hour strike across the UK, which saw train drivers walk out over jobs, pay and conditions.

By Isobel Frodsham

In Pictures: Drought takes its toll on countryside as England changes colour

England has taken on a different hue with infrequent rain causing parched landscapes.

By Pa

Fresh train strike to cause more disruption for passengers

Members of the drivers’ union Aslef at nine train operators will walk out on August 13.

Kent authorities demand more Government money to handle Dover traffic chaos

Leaders of a number of local councils as well as Visit Kent and Eurotunnel have penned an open letter to the Secretary of State for Transport.

By Katie Boyden

Hospital and train services to face pressure due to ‘extreme heat’

The Met Office has issued an amber warning for heat from Sunday until Tuesday.

By Pa Reporters

Wimbledon first-day attendance low after officials predicted ‘record crowd’

Just over 36,603 spectators attended day one of Wimbledon 2022 – much lower than the 42,000 organisers had expected.

By Laura Parnaby

Record crowds expected as Wimbledon returns at full capacity

Sally Bolton, chief executive of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, told reporters that changes to the schedule mean a ‘record crowd’ is expected.

By Laura Parnaby

NHS worker fears he won’t make it to Glastonbury Festival following rail strikes

The Prime Minister told a meeting of the Cabinet that reforms are vital for the rail industry and those who work in it.

PM urges passengers to ‘stay the course’ in the face of rail strikes

The Prime Minister told a meeting of the Cabinet that reforms are vital for the rail industry and those who work in it.

By Neil Lancefield

HMRC scraps plans for new inland border facility in Dover

Officials says by no longer going ahead with the plans it will save £120 million

By Katie Boyden

National hospital and GP mask rules ditched in England

Local bodies are instead making their own calls about whether or not people should wear masks.

By Ella Pickover

New 145-mile cycling route launched to mark Kent Day

The route passes through Canterbury, Whitstable, Folkestone and Dover.

By Summer Goodkind

People of Ukraine remembered in churches on Palm Sunday

The Pope called for an Easter truce in his Palm Sunday Vatican service.

By Helen William

Long wait times at Dover crossing costing transport companies ‘£800 per lorry’

The suspension of P&O; services at the Channel crossing is causing perishable products to go bad.

By Alana Calvert

Chaos in Kent as 23-mile stretch of M20 closed due to ferry shortage

Delays to Channel crossings are being driven by the suspension of P&O; Ferries sailings after the operator sacked nearly 800 seafarers without notice.

By Neil Lancefield

Convoy of UK fire trucks heading to Ukraine to help emergency services

The group set off from Ashford, Kent carrying thousands of pieces of equipment.

By Isobel Frodsham

Alleged baby killer nurse makes further court appearance

Lucy Letby, 32, is accused of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder of babies on a neonatal unit.

Driver jailed after pretending to be undercover police officer following crash

By Michael Drummond

Bins ‘overflowing’ with Christmas waste amid staff shortages caused by Covid

Investment at Dover putting smaller ports at disadvantage – ferry firm

By Neil Lancefield

Trapped squirrels and a lizard in a bra: the RSPCA’s weirdest rescues

By Tammy Hughes

Trapped squirrels and a lizard in a bra: the RSPCA’s weirdest 2021 rescues

By Lottie Kilraine

Jailed Insulate Britain protester ends hunger strike after 26 days

By Ted Hennessey

Latest Covid-19 case rates for UK local authority areas