Nurses at several hospitals in Kent have been asked to wear ‘do not disturb’ signs while on their drugs rounds. The red tabards are worn during three daily rounds lasting up to thirty minutes each.

The East Kent NHS Foundation runs the Kent and Canterbury, the William Harvey, and the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, which was the first hospital to wear the vests. They hope the new tabards will reduce the number of mistakes made by nurses while dispensing drugs to patients.

However the charity Age Concern has worries that the vests may prevent more vulnerable patients from approaching staff.

The Royal College of Nursing has dismissed these concerns, saying that they ‘wouldn’t want it to be seen as a way for nurses to ignore patients but that hasn’t been the feeling of the nurses involved.’

A spokesman from East Kent Trust said that other nurses would be on hand during the drug rounds despite fears that this may be the only time patients may get to speak to nurses.

Zookeepers in Kent are celebrating some new additions to their zoo in the form of baby wild animals.

Port Lympne and Howletts, both part of the Aspinal Foundation, have experienced several births in recent weeks thanks to breeding programmes.

The most recent arrival was a baby Howler Monkey born at Port Lympne.

Other animals born at the zoo include three meerkats and a rare species of Baboon.

A retired surgeon has broken the record for being the oldest person to swim the English Channel.

70-year-old Roger Allsopp completed the 21 nautical mile swim in less than 18 hours after setting off from Shakespeare Beach in Dover at 8 am on Tuesday.

Mr Allsopp who is originally from Guernsey has a history of personal physical challenges. In 2006 he set the same record for swimming the Channel at the age of 65. He also ran the London Marathon aged 60.

His latest record hopes to raise money for a cancer research team in Southampton.

Up to 80 people were rescued after they were swept out to sea during a charity swim to raise money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

All the swimmers had been taking part in a 3.8 kilometres charity race around Joss Bay in Broadstairs on Sunday.

Dover Coastguards said they were called to the bay around 10.30 and spent two hours searching for all the missing swimmers.

Watch manager Gordon Wise told BBC Kent: “It could have potentially been a very serious event, a very serious problem.”

He added: “When we got down there we found that there was a number of swimmers that had gone out, I understand the numbers are in the high upper tens.

“In the end through a search between two inshore lifeboats, rescue boats, and some paddle boarders which were part of the event, all people were brought ashore and accounted for.

“It was a long job. It went on for nearly two hours.

“There are some bad tides that run along there, rip tiding. Especially at the moment we are coming up to some of the highest tides of the year.”

A man in his sixties escaped from a house fire over the weekend in Folkestone.

Four fire appliances and a command support unit were called to the scene where 20 fire fighters tackled the blaze at Radnor Park Gardens.

Crews brought the flames, on the second floor of the three storey building, under control at about 10 past 1, Sunday morning.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said a man, aged in his 60s, was treated for smoke inhalation.

Kent Police are appealing for information after two men were assaulted in Folkestone last week.

Officers were called to a flat in Dover Road after reports that a 42-year-old man had been stabbed.

The man was air lifted to King’s College Hospital where his condition was described as stable. In another flat in the building a 40-year-old man was found with minor cuts to his back. He was treated for his injuries at hospital and later discharged.

Police have issued descriptions of two offenders as both white men aged between 17 and 25. One had short brown hair and was of a medium build and about 5ft 8in tall. The second man was shorter and had black or dark brown hair. Both men may have taken off their tops before making off from the building on foot.

Anyone with information is asked to call Kent Police on 01622 690690.

The Sandgate Sea and Food Festival kicks off this bank holiday weekend, offering up a taste of what Sandgate has to offer.

Live music and fireworks start proceedings on Saturday with a mermaid, jugglers, flamenco dancers, and many more entertaining throughout the weekend. There is also a chance to win a luxury European cruise.

Spanish Tapas, Mexican Fajitas, Nepalese dishes, home-made bread and pies will all be part of the delicious food that will be available over the weekend.

As well as promoting the area, fundraising will also be taking place for this year’s chosen charity RNLI.

For more information, visit www.sandgate-sea-festival.co.uk

Residents have voiced their outrage after a new scheme to deal with rubbish resulted in late collections and maggot infested bins.

Home owners should have received brand new bins in Shepway District Council’s controversial new waste-collection scheme; however residents in Hawkinge said they were forgotten about.

Speaking to the Herald, a spokesman said: “The new recycling bins for flats are still being rolled out and the residents of Augusta Gardens should receive their new bins in the next few weeks.”

“We apologise to all residents that have been affected.”

A popular air show is set to return to Folkestone next summer, the first since 2003.

The Shepway Airshow will not be as large as previous displays, but will act as the finale to the Grande festival which will mark the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Speaking to the Herald, Town centre manager John Barber said: “We used to have one years ago, why can’t we have it again? It died from lack of funding, not lack of interest. According to the Herald, it’s expected to bring up to 3 hundred thousand people to the town.

For more information on contributing in any way to this and other Folkestone events. Call town centre management on 01303 850 522.

A pond in Radnor Park Folkestone has been fenced off after a potentially toxic algae was found in the water.

Shepway District Council took decisive action after it was confirmed by the Environment Agency that the blue-green algae could be harmful to humans and animals.

In place is a fence and warning signs advising people to keep away from the water.

Folkestone County Councillor Tim Prater praised the council for its fast response. He told localrags.co.uk:

“I’ve asked them how quickly the outbreak of algae is likely to be cleared and fencing and signs can be removed so that local residents can enjoy the pond as before. In the meantime, keeping outside the security fencing, and ensuring your pets do so as well, will minimise any risk”

The cyanobacterial toxins that were found can cause a range of symptoms including skin irritation, headache, nausea and fever.