Real Life

29 Elf on the Shelf adventures

29 Elf on the Shelf adventures

They enjoy mess, sugary treats and keeping a close eye on the kids before Christmas so what chaos will your elf on the shelf cause this year?

Chocolate range recalled over safety fears

Chocolate range recalled over safety fears

Confectioner Mars is recalling a range of its chocolate over fears packets may contain small pieces of rubber.

Temporary library to open after water damage closed historic site last year

Temporary library to open after water damage closed historic site last year

New library services will be introduced to a town centre after the main 135-year-old building had to shut due to water damage.

NHS offers £1,230 healthy food cash to hard-pressed parents

NHS offers £1,230 healthy food cash to hard-pressed parents

Pregnant women and parents of young children can now apply for funding to help pay for milk, fruit and veg.

Free reflector keyrings up for grabs

Free reflector keyrings up for grabs

We're giving away thousands of reflective keyrings to children in Kent to help them remain visible to drivers during the darker days ahead.

Supermarket recalls chicken dippers over fears they contain plastic

Supermarket recalls chicken dippers over fears they contain plastic

Supermarket Lidl is recalling packs of its frozen chicken dippers amid fears that ‘hard blue plastic’ has made its way into the food.

Is the cost of living crisis behind a rise in hot water bottle burns to children?

Is the cost of living crisis behind a rise in hot water bottle burns to children?

Charities fear the cost of living crisis is behind a sharp rise in the number of children being burnt or scalded by hot water bottles.

Pupil absence in Kent rockets since pandemic

Pupil absence in Kent rockets since pandemic

The number of children "persistently absent" from school has more than doubled in the last five years.

Are you eligible for an extra £300 before Christmas?

Are you eligible for an extra £300 before Christmas?

Eight million homes will get an extra £300 before Christmas as the government dishes out a second cost of living payment but who can get the cash?

Warning over rise in tuberculosis cases as efforts to eliminate it ‘stall’

Warning over rise in tuberculosis cases as efforts to eliminate it ‘stall’

Cases of tuberculosis are rising but what is it, what are the symptoms and why doesn’t the NHS any longer offer all children immunisation?

50 popular Christmas toys since 1973

50 popular Christmas toys since 1973

The most popular Christmas toys to have topped children’s wish lists since 1973 have been revealed by Argos – but how many of them do you remember?

Visits to NHS website for help with head lice and nits leap by a third

Visits to NHS website for help with head lice and nits leap by a third

The number of families seeking help with head lice and nits is on the rise, says NHS England, which is reporting a spike in visitors to its website.

London train trips to cost more when one-day Travelcard is scrapped

London train trips to cost more when one-day Travelcard is scrapped

Plans to scrap one-day Travelcards will make train trips to London more expensive from January, fears a campaign group.

Payment date confirmed for next £300 cost-of-living payment

Payment date confirmed for next £300 cost-of-living payment

Eight million homes are to get an extra £300 ahead of the winter and the DWP has now confirmed the payment date and who is eligible for the money.

Argos reveals 18 top toys for Christmas 2023

Argos reveals 18 top toys for Christmas 2023

The toys most likely to top Christmas wish lists this year have been revealed by retailer Argos, which has released its annual list of predictions.

Community centre opens after six-year wait

Community centre opens after six-year wait

A town finally has its new community centre after a six-year wait.

Cadbury Christmas treat returns to shelves after almost a decade

Cadbury Christmas treat returns to shelves after almost a decade

Cadbury is bringing back a popular Christmas treat almost a decade after the confectioner discontinued the range.

Award for young sisters after family’s double cancer tragedy

Award for young sisters after family’s double cancer tragedy

Young sisters who cared for two parents with cancer and a little girl who saved her mum’s life are among this year’s Children’s Award winners.

Supermarket to trial sensory-friendly shopping hours

Supermarket to trial sensory-friendly shopping hours

A supermarket is to trial sensory-friendly shopping hours, which if successful, will be rolled out to all stores nationwide.

When can I leave my child home alone?

When can I leave my child home alone?

With the school holidays in full swing many parents are juggling work with childcare so at what age can children be left at home by themselves?

Struggling families can claim £100 food voucher

Struggling families can claim £100 food voucher

The county council is offering a one-off voucher this summer to help those in need amid the cost-of-living crisis.

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Supermarket to scrap largest milk cartons

Supermarket to scrap largest milk cartons

A supermarket is phasing out its largest six-pint milk cartons as part of efforts to reduce food waste by customers.

Days left for thousands of people to renew benefits

Days left for thousands of people to renew benefits

Thousands of people claiming tax credits have just a few days left to renew their claim or risk having their payments stopped, says HMRC.

Adopt your own Shaun the Sheep to join art trail flock

Adopt your own Shaun the Sheep to join art trail flock

A Shaun the Sheep-themed sculpture trail is coming to Kent and schools, groups and care homes are being sought to adopt and decorate the flock.

The best and safest sun creams you can buy this summer

The best and safest sun creams you can buy this summer

A £3 supermarket sun cream has come out as one of the strongest performers in the latest round of lotion lab tests – see the full list here.

Wet weather and high pollen raise fears of ‘thunderstorm asthma’ attacks

Wet weather and high pollen raise fears of ‘thunderstorm asthma’ attacks

With pollen counts high and storms brewing, allergy experts are warning asthmatics to be cautious amid fears conditions could trigger severe attacks.

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