麻豆约拍

John and Clare with the news, weather, travel and sport plus stories from around Kent.

Thousands of children in Kent are missing school today, and hospital patients have had operations postponed, as the biggest public sector walkout since the 1970s gets underway.

More than 2 million workers are on strike across the country, including teachers, civil servants, health workers and border control staff, in protest against changes to their pensions. The government says the strikes are irresponsible while negotiations with unions are continuing (06:07, 07:07 and 08:07).

As we revealed on this programme yesterday, proposals for a new hub airport in the south east are being considered by the government.

Other announcements in yesterday's statement include plans to invite firms to put in bids to build a third crossing on the lower Thames, with a public consultation in 2013, the scrapping of next January's planned fuel duty increase, and rail fare increases being limited to six per cent, rather than the eight per cent South East Commuters were expecting to pay at the start of next year.

It is the announcement about a possible new hub airport for the South East which is going to be of most interest to people in the Isle of Grain. We speak to Chris Buckland, Chairman for the Grain Parish Council (07:22).