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00:00Hello and welcome to Kent Tonight Live here on KMTV.
00:26I'm Oli Leder and here are your top stories on Monday the 18th of August.
00:32Emergency near Rootam, driver in critical condition as tractor falls off bridge onto
00:39motorway.
00:40Bullseye, Gillingham Dance Pub rejuvenated under new management.
00:45We had a karaoke here Saturday that has come back that wasn't allowed here before and we
00:50had multiple people coming up thanking us for taking it over.
00:53But a roaring success one year on after their rescue had the lions from Ukraine found their
00:59pride in Kent.
01:01We worked with some incredible partners and managed to get all five lions out and build
01:05them the forever home, the Lion Rescue Centre.
01:09Well first tonight a tractor driver has been airlifted to hospital with serious injuries
01:23after his vehicle plunged from a bridge and landed in the central reservation of the M20
01:29during a crash.
01:31The motorway is currently closed in both directions between Junction 3 at Addington and Junction
01:361 at Swanleigh.
01:37Following what police say was a two vehicle collision, national highways have warned drivers
01:43that the closure could remain in place for up to six hours.
01:47Well our reporter Gabriel Morris is live at the scene with us with the latest.
01:51Gabriel, can you break down exactly what's happened here?
01:55Well it was a little after 11am this morning that a tractor went over the side of the bridge
02:04there.
02:05We don't know the exact details but Kent Police have told us that it was a two vehicle collision.
02:12We know it was a tractor and it was carrying a large load of raspberries and you can still
02:17see the trailer on its side behind me at the moment now.
02:22That is still on its side and services are now in, recovery services are now in, now trying
02:27to turn that back over and get it on but that could take a couple of hours more.
02:33This main road heading over the M20 remain closed and both carriageways of the M20.
02:39This is rush hour, this would usually be a very busy area at this time of day so it's expected
02:45this will cause a lot of disruption this evening on the roads.
02:49Now for the driver itself of the tractor, we understand that the tractor fell cab upside
02:56down onto the M20.
02:58He was subsequently removed by paramedics and airlifted to a London hospital where we've
03:03been told he is in a serious condition.
03:06Now we managed to speak to an eyewitness earlier today who said accidents in this area aren't
03:13uncommon.
03:14We saw that a tractor had fallen down off the bridge onto the central reservation and the
03:21trailer of the tractor, which we can still see in front of us there, and by that time
03:28the tractor was empty.
03:29The helicopter itself was taking off and in a stand with the tractor driver alive inside.
03:36This is a major thoroughfare from north to south and then the M20, obviously, I don't
03:43need to say how important that is.
03:45I don't know if either side has been reopened yet, I don't think so, has it?
03:49OK, so there we go.
03:50It's going to be closed for a few hours and more, I think, and sadly...
03:55Despite the shopping pictures that we've seen here, Gabriel, when can we expect a disruption
04:00to commuters to come to an end here?
04:04Well, it's not exactly clear.
04:06That will be down to national highways.
04:08Now there are a few problems which are going to delay that.
04:11The tractor has now been cleared from the road.
04:14It's on the back of a lorry at the moment waiting to be removed from the scene.
04:18But when it fell, we understand it left a large amount of fuel and hydraulic oil onto the carriageway.
04:25And there is a large amount of sand there now as emergency services and highways work
04:30to clear up the scene.
04:32The other issue is on the top of this bridge.
04:34When the tractor went over, we understand that it took a part of the bridge away and some
04:39of that is currently dangling on the side of the motorway.
04:43So it's expected that that will need to be repaired before this section of the road reopens
04:49as police aren't allowing anyone over and also till the carriageway below of both directions
04:54of the M20 reopen.
04:56Gabriel, thank you.
04:57You'll join us later in the programme with the latest in a bit.
05:01Now, a pile of apple crates near Raynham caught fire, causing smoke that could be seen
05:08as far away as Sheppey.
05:11At the height of the incident, six fire engines in a bulk water carrier attended and left the
05:16scene this morning.
05:17You can see the pictures on screen right now.
05:19Look at that fire.
05:20It's quite significant.
05:21Residents in a nearby village described seeing a lot of black smoke, with some worried about
05:25what could have happened if the wind had changed.
05:28Well, a fire service spokesperson said that residents are no longer being advised to keep windows
05:33and doors closed.
05:34Crews have maintained a watching brief overnight and are dampening down the remaining hotspots.
05:40Now, a man in his twenties has been bailed as investigations into the death of a two-year-old
05:48boy who died in a car park in Whitstable.
05:51He's since been bailed while investigations continue.
05:54Floor tributes now line Goral Tank car park where paramedics pronounce the toddler dead.
06:00The exact circumstances of what led to his death remain unclear.
06:05But a reporter, Kristen Hawthorne, joins me now with all the details.
06:09It's a really tragic situation, this.
06:12Can you break down what happened there?
06:14Yes.
06:15So, a car struck pedestrians and crashed through the barriers of Goral Tank Park in Whitstable
06:20on Saturday.
06:21Emergency services were called to the scene at the junction of Harbour Street and Cromwell
06:25Park.
06:26But the boy, two years old, was pronounced dead at the scene.
06:29A man had also been hospitalised with serious injuries due to the incident.
06:34Since then, teddies and floral tributes have been left at the scene, some of which we can
06:38see here now.
06:40The suspect involved was arrested at the scene shortly after the crash.
06:44He's been since bailed and is due to return to the police station for further investigation.
06:49Obviously, we've seen those floral tributes on screen.
06:53It's something that seems to have really had a big impact on the community.
06:57What's the reaction been like?
06:59So, I mean, some of the people, there was a man who's seen the incident.
07:03He lives just opposite the car park.
07:05He said that within a matter of minutes, the area was chock-a-block and full of emergency
07:09services.
07:10Rosie Duffield, the MP for Whitstable, said that she was shocked and saddened to hear about
07:16the incident and gave her condolences to the family.
07:19She also urges anyone who may have been nearby to contact Kemp Police in case you may have
07:24picked up some important evidence on your dash cam or witnessed something that could
07:28later be useful to finding out what's happened here.
07:32Canterbury City Council said its thoughts are with everyone involved and affected and
07:37that the car park has now been reopened.
07:39It's a really tragic situation.
07:41We hope that if anyone has any evidence at home, they can share it with the police and
07:46help them with their investigation.
07:48Kristen, thanks for the details.
07:50We'll speak about this very shortly later in the programme.
07:54Now, Kemp County Council confirmed that an adult education centre in Gravesend will be
07:59moving to a new site in mid-October.
08:02A spokesperson said following the Department for Education's changes to have the adult
08:07skills fund can be used.
08:08We have to make some changes to our centre.
08:11They are currently looking for sites in the district and classes will continue at the
08:15Victoria Centre until we relocate.
08:18Students at the centre have criticised the move, with one saying the centre has been part
08:23of their history for so long they are sad to see something else go there.
08:27Now, a Gillingham pub that Kemp Police had previously described as a site of serious crime has turned
08:34around under new management.
08:36The Wooden Tavern was previously brought to a licensing review after assaults when unreported.
08:42But the new management hoped to make it the beating heart of the community.
08:46I went down to find out how they are planning on turning this pub into a dance venue that everyone
08:52can use.
08:53It was a lot dingier around where the dartboards were and along the window edge.
08:58Now, it's a really good community project.
09:02A site of serious crime pulled back from the brink.
09:07It was only last year that the Wooden Tavern was under fire from Kent Police for unreported
09:14assaults and management unresponsive to their concerns, leaving many regulars putting up their
09:23pints for good.
09:25That was until one of the usual customers poured out his heart and soul, bringing his local back
09:33to life.
09:34A few times I got to the point where is it worth carrying on, but I've persevered through
09:39it all and it's improving now.
09:41You can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
09:43It's better now.
09:44You can see where I want to take it.
09:46It's going the right way I want to take it.
09:49Running the bar still isn't easy.
09:51Many of the licence restrictions that Medway Council put in place remain in effect.
09:57But the manager here hopes that in the coming weeks and months, they'll be able to prove
10:04that the pub is a force for good in the community.
10:08We had the karaoke here Saturday that has come back that wasn't allowed here before.
10:12And we had multiple people coming up thanking us for taking it over and running it because
10:17they were avoiding the place because of the previous managers.
10:20Obviously, we were mainly a darts pub, but I grew up in pubs all over Medway.
10:24My mum ran them and it was always a great place for a kid to grow up and that's what
10:29I'm intending on bringing back.
10:31Work is still underway here, with local artists being brought in to give the place a fresh
10:38lick of paint.
10:39A sign that for the first time in months, the glass here is half full rather than running
10:46empty.
10:47Olly Lieder in Gillingham.
10:52Well, it seems to have hit a spot with the locals there.
10:55Everyone loves a great pub, especially a Medway pub, me included.
11:00Now, it's time for a break.
11:02But coming up in just a few minutes' time, we take a look at an affordable family fund
11:08to end the summer on a high this August bank holiday.
11:13And additionally, I'll be joined by our reporter Alfie Rowe with the latest on Prime Minister
11:18Keir Starmer's arrival in Washington ahead of peace talks between US, Ukrainian and European
11:25leaders aimed at ending the Russian-Ukraine war for good.
11:28We'll have local reaction during that chat as well.
11:32Before the end of the show, do you like lions?
11:34I know I do.
11:35And we caught up with the big cat sanctuary because today marks one year since the Ukrainian
11:40lions were rescued and rehomed in Kent.
11:43All that and more after the break.
11:45See you in a few minutes.
11:50Take care.
18:20Michael Goodenmore for KMTV, Rochester.
18:22Now on the other side of the world from Kent, Prime Minister Kirsa Kirstehmer has landed
18:26in Washington, Head of Peace talks between US, Ukrainian and European leaders to end the
18:28Russia-Ukraine war.
18:30With a large Ukrainian diaspora in Kent and across the UK, all eyes are on the White
18:36House to see if any progress can be made towards achieving peace in the region.
18:41Earlier today, I was joined by Alfie Rowe, who had all the details.
18:46Well, Alfie joins us in the studio now.
18:48It's a big day for international relations.
18:51What is the hopes of these talks in Washington today?
18:56Well, in short, a settlement for the Ukraine conflict.
19:00What that looks like in practice depends on who you ask.
19:03If you're one of the Ukrainians, this really means trying to give up as little territory as possible in this conflict, which has been ongoing for years now.
19:11If you're Russian, this means holding on to or taking full control of the Donbass region, which is in eastern Ukraine, which they have been quite insistent on maintaining control of in its entirety.
19:23However, according to a special envoy, a special U.S. envoy on Friday after Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, met with Donald Trump in Alaska, there have been guarantees of robust security in the region, whatever this means in practice.
19:39The U.S., for their part, want the conflict to be wrapped up as soon as possible.
19:44And whilst details have not been very forthcoming on this subject, President Donald Trump has today ruled out Ukraine being returned to the Crimean Peninsula, which, of course, Russia annexed in 2014.
19:55And also ruled out Ukraine, joining the military alliance of NATO, which guarantees security for all its members and which Ukraine has been very eager to join, especially since the start of the war.
20:08Obviously, Ken has been massively impacted by the war in Ukraine with gas prices.
20:13And we have our government representative there, Sir Keir Starmer.
20:17He's the prime minister.
20:18What is he hoping to achieve?
20:20What's his strategy going to talk today?
20:22Well, the Labour government has a bit of a balancing act between quite a lot of strong personalities and conflicting interests.
20:30And I think their approach has really been trying to kind of, you know, mirror that.
20:34They've been, on one hand, very collaborative with their other partners and, on the other hand, tried to be very pragmatic between the strong personalities in the room.
20:42I actually spoke to the Labour MP for Chatham and Aylesford in Kent, Tristan Osborne, earlier, who explained to me this process in more detail.
20:50The government's approach is to work with allies in Europe, first of all.
20:56And we want to see a settlement, a peaceful settlement here.
20:59We believe that Ukraine should never have been invaded in the first place.
21:03This is a war of aggression by Putin.
21:05But we also accept that to get a just peace, we will have to compromise with Ukraine to get security guarantees and potentially land swaps.
21:17And that is the conversation which now needs to happen in the United States with Donald Trump.
21:23And that we need to ensure that Ukraine, we have Ukraine's back in those conversations so that they feel that they are getting a just settlement.
21:32And that is where we are at the moment.
21:35Now, we have a big Ukrainian community here in Kent.
21:38What are they looking for from today?
21:40Well, it's too early to tell based on the fact these peace talks are still very much ongoing, but it comes at an interesting time for this community.
21:49This weekend marks the 34th anniversary of Ukrainian independence and the charity Canterbury for Ukraine are putting on a huge celebration in honour of this fact.
21:58But whether the tone for those celebrations will be hopeful or sorrowful, I guess we'll have to wait to see after the talks today.
22:04Now, in some business news, a dance and gymnastics studio is set to open in a former smokehouse in Ashford.
22:14Galaxy Dance and Gymnastics will be moving into the old smokehouse, which has been empty since April when the restaurant closed following a two-star hygiene rating.
22:23Complaints of food running out on Mother's Day.
22:26One of the owners said having their own venue will be great as they can be more flexible when it comes to running classes.
22:32The team hopes to have more than 300 boys and girls on their books once the studio is ready to go, with more than 10 classes set to launch from September.
22:44Now, don't forget you can keep up to date with all your latest stories across Kent by logging on to our website, kmtv.co.uk.
22:52They will find all our reports, including this one, about the 80th anniversary of VJ Day just last Friday, when World War II officially came to an end.
23:03This is the last post, a song used to honour the glorious dead who won our freedom, being heard once again on the eve of VJ Day.
23:20With that, army personnel, young and old, are here to remember the end of World War II 80 years ago.
23:29This cenotaph behind me serves as the backdrop for which dozens of veterans are paying their respects tonight to victory in Japan Day.
23:41Yes, obviously everyone has VE Day like we had a few months ago now, but VJ is sort of like later on and not really one of the ones to remember.
23:51But as we have the Gurkhas based in Maitstone, if it wasn't for the Gurkhas being in that campaign, we probably wouldn't be here.
24:00A lot of people think the Second World War finished with victory in Europe.
24:03It continued until everyone came home from Japan and the far-flung places.
24:08I was lucky enough to actually know one of many people who built the bridge over the river Kwai.
24:14So it's important to me in the memory of that particular man that I knew.
24:18My grandfather was in both First World War and Second World War and he survived.
24:25Unfortunately, he died before I was born, so I never got to meet him.
24:29But I get to see the medals whenever I want to, so I'm very proud to be in the Sea Cadets.
24:39As well as honouring the fallen, there was also an important message of remembering the past in light of current conflicts.
24:49It also means, as we've heard in this service, a moment when an event took place, the dropping of the atomic bomb,
24:57that we hope never has to be used again in any situation, particularly not in conflict.
25:03A devastating way to end the war, but it ended, it was finite,
25:08and everybody and future generations need to keep being reminded of the significance of that particular event.
25:16Night turned today, and a special remembrance service was held outside County Hall in Maidstone.
25:25Sadness for those who lost their lives, and relief that we have freedom,
25:30that we can actually meet today and worship together as one body,
25:34united in wanting to keep not only Britain safe and free, but peace across the nations.
25:40We remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and now we give thanks that there is peace in the world.
25:46With the end of World War II, nearing its 100th anniversary,
25:51there are hopes that all will remember them, now and forever.
25:56Henry Luck, for KMTV, in Maidstone.
26:02Very moving indeed, but now it's time for the weather.
26:05Tonight is looking mild, some clouds scattered in Dartford and Medway,
26:14clear night skies elsewhere, and temperatures around 16.
26:17Into tomorrow morning, cloudy in the north, some sun in the south,
26:22temperatures rising to 20.
26:24And into the afternoon, rising even higher, 23 degrees down in Ashford,
26:29clear skies for most of the county.
26:31For the rest of the week, their temperatures remaining around 20,
26:35some cloud, lots of sunshine.
26:36Bring that sun cream with you.
26:46Now it's time for a quick break.
26:48See you in a minute.
27:01.
34:43Thank you for those details.
34:47Thank you for those details.
34:49Now in Medway News, the junior pub that Kent Police has previously described as a site
34:51of serious crime has turned around under new management.
34:53And I went down to the Woodland Tavern to find out how.
34:57It was a lot dingier around where the dark bones were and along the window edge.
35:01Now it's a really good community project.
35:05A site of serious crime pulled back from the brink.
35:10It was only last year that the Woodland Tavern was under fire from Kent Police for unreported
35:17assaults and management unresponsive to their concerns.
35:23Leaving many regulars putting up their pints for good.
35:28That was until one of the usual customers poured out his heart and soul.
35:34Bringing his local back to life.
35:37A few times I got to the point where is it worth carrying on.
35:40But I've persevered through it all and it's improving now.
35:44You can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
35:46It's better now.
35:47You can see where I want to take it.
35:49It's going the right way I want to take it.
35:51Running the bar still isn't easy.
35:54Many of the license restrictions that Medway Council put in place remain in effect.
36:00But the manager here hopes that in the coming weeks and months,
36:05they'll be able to prove that the pub is a force for good in the community.
36:11We had the karaoke here Saturday that has come back that wasn't allowed here before.
36:15And we had multiple people coming up thanking us for taking it over and running it
36:20because they were avoiding the place because of the previous managers.
36:23Obviously, we were mainly a darts pub, but I grew up in pubs all over Medway.
36:28My mum ran them and it was always a great place for a kid to grow up.
36:32And that's what I'm intending on bringing back.
36:34Work is still underway here, with local artists being brought in to give the place a fresh lick of paint.
36:42A sign that for the first time in months, the glass here is half full rather than running empty.
36:49Ollie Leder in Gillingham.
36:51Now, Eleanor Hospice staff in Northfield have been praised for their excellent care towards end-of-life patients.
37:01The Care Quality Commission has rated them outstanding overall following an assessment of its adult hospice services.
37:08The report added they went out of their way to ensure that people's needs were met at the end of life
37:13and went above and beyond what could have been expected to meet individual needs and wishes.
37:18The CQC also committed Eleanor for its focus on inclusion and cultural understanding
37:24and its work to reduce health inequalities and reach underrepresented communities.
37:30Now, Dandara South East is seeking permission to build over 500 homes in a new healthcare facility near Paddock Wood.
37:39An environment impact assessment has been submitted to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
37:44According to documents in support of the planning bid, 40% of houses were earmarked as affordable housing.
37:50Councillor Adrian Pitt said the development is very important to Paddock Wood as it includes enhancements
37:56to sports facilities and a possible new GP and health centre.
38:00He added, however, that there could be a big issue coping with flooding in the area.
38:07Now, Fremlin Walk in Maidstone celebrates its 20-year anniversary.
38:13The shopping mall opened its gates back in 2005 and was built on the former site of Fremlin's Brewery.
38:19The original brewery was founded in 1861 and original features such as the golden elephant weathervane
38:26were preserved in the new development.
38:28General manager Lloyd Wright has seen the retail landscape change, saying it's not just about buying something quickly,
38:35it's about the experience.
38:36He added that in the future, he hopes Fremlin Walk will become a one-stop shop with banks, opticians and even a doctor's room.
38:44And now, with the August bank holiday coming up and the summer holidays nearly at an end,
38:50are there any events to see summer off on a high with the family that won't break the bank?
38:56Well, our community reporter, Henry Luck, has some family-friendly events that could really help out
39:01if you're a bit cash-strapped and looking for something to do with the kids.
39:05Henry, here you break down what some of the great things that you can do right here in Kent are this bank holiday weekend.
39:12Well, Ollie, my first event is Boeing. It's an arts festival that takes place on the campus at the Uni of Canterbury every year.
39:21In fact, I went down there to cover that one myself last year and I just love seeing all the live music,
39:27all the arts displays, especially that inflatable sensory room, that was just amazing to be in.
39:34And a lot of children that were in there definitely had a lot of fun in that one, as you can see.
39:40Can you see it on screen? It looks incredible. Look at all the colours and lights and everything.
39:45Yes, it sure was amazing to be in there. But of course, if you want to see something quieter,
39:51of course, we've got arts and crafts and there's even going to be send rooms.
39:56So that's I imagine that would be really good for parents, children with sense who struggle sensory with,
40:05sorry about that, with SEND. So that would be a really good one for them to explore.
40:10It's really important to provide these sorts of access and opportunities to different families.
40:16And is there anything else that families can do in Cairns?
40:20Because it is going to be a big weekend, hopefully a bit better weather than today.
40:24Is there anything else families can do?
40:26Well, my next one is at Hever Castle in Edenbridge.
40:30And this one's going to be for those history lovers out there.
40:33I know Finn would love this one.
40:36It is called Hever in History Weekend.
40:40And as we can see, it's all about the Victorian age.
40:44Of course, there's going to be reenactments of those as well as medieval battles.
40:50And there's going to be a jousting competition, as we can see on the screen, arts and crafts.
40:58And even on the Saturday at half 7pm, at 7.30pm, there's going to be a play about the castle's former royal resident
41:08and one of the famous wives of Henry VIII and Boleyn.
41:14So I'm sure that would be an amazing one to see.
41:17But as a sensory warning, there will be loud cannons, bangs at the event to recreate the atmosphere of those times.
41:24So please keep those in mind.
41:26Really important to flag that.
41:27But I think I know what I'll be doing that weekend.
41:29That jousting competition looks terrific.
41:32Henry, thanks for joining us on the sofa today.
41:34Really, really great for families to hear about all of that.
41:37Thank you for having me.
41:39Now it's time for a quick break.
41:41But coming up, Ken's older population want to stay watchful as fresh data exposes increased fraud risks.
41:47Stick with us.
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48:07Now,
48:37thank you.
50:31especially designed for the individual that's in it.
50:34Rory behind me, for example, has a neurological condition
50:39that he's had somewhere from a young age.
50:40He's a bit weaker on his back end,
50:42probably due to not getting the right nutrition growing up.
50:45And so his enclosure has very gentle slopes and mounds.
50:48There's no high areas.
50:50And it's a space that's going to allow him
50:53to build muscle tone safely.
50:55The pride are clearly making themselves at home.
50:58And with how eager they are to pose for the camera,
51:01no wonder they're set to get the lion's share of public attention
51:06here at the sanctuary for quite some time.
51:09Oliver leaves the sacks for KMTV in Smarden.
51:13So how are they doing now?
51:15Well, I caught up with Cam Whitnall
51:17from the sanctuary earlier to find out.
51:20Well, Cam, it's been quite an interesting first year
51:24with the Ukrainian lions at the sanctuary.
51:26How's it all been?
51:29It's been incredible.
51:30Just watching that transformation, all of them,
51:33from where they came from to where they are now,
51:36it's beautiful to see.
51:38And we're just happy that they're living a much safer
51:41and carefree life here in Kent.
51:45Because can you remind us of the stories of these lions?
51:48They've been through so much,
51:49everything you can imagine a lion going through.
51:52Can you break down why it's so important that you rescued them?
51:56Yeah, so sadly, the five lions were living in the war in Ukraine.
52:01They were all through the illegal pet trade.
52:03So none of them came through zoos.
52:05The illegal wildlife trade is the fourth biggest in the world.
52:08And people were having them and keeping them in their back gardens
52:12or houses and even Vanda being found in someone's flat.
52:16Vanda, for example, she was on a third floor flat when the war broke out
52:20and she was discovered she was riddled with parasites.
52:23She'd never been outside before.
52:24She was severely malnourished and underdeveloped.
52:27Una couldn't stand, she was shell-shocked and concussed and she was left.
52:33The owners fled and she was going to be euthanized.
52:37But we worked with some incredible partners and managed to get all five lions out
52:42and build them the forever home, the Lion Rescue Centre.
52:46We raised half a million pounds towards it.
52:49It became a global story.
52:51And the support we received from everyone was special, not just people in Kent as well.
52:57Literally, we've just had our open days, or it's the only time of year
53:01where we open up our site to everyone.
53:03And we had people from Australia, North America, Singapore and Asia
53:09come and just see these lions that we rescued.
53:11So it was incredible.
53:13Because I've seen these enclosures and they are really, really incredible
53:17and catered to these lions, very specialist needs.
53:20I mean, some of these lions hadn't even seen grass,
53:22as my understanding, before they arrived at the sanctuary.
53:25And how have they changed since arriving here in Kent?
53:28Have they developed their personalities?
53:30Are they feeling more comfortable here?
53:33Yes. So, Una's a perfect example.
53:36Una's, you know, the special one for me.
53:38She's what started it all.
53:40When we first saw that video on Instagram that was shared by I-4
53:44and Wild Animal Rescue of her struggling,
53:47free shell shock and concussion from the bombings and watching her development from day one
53:53of taking her first steps on grass here in Kent at our sanctuary.
53:58You know, she had a lot of coordination problems.
54:00She was wobbly.
54:01She does have neurological issues.
54:03However, and she didn't trust people as well.
54:06But in time over this last year, and we're celebrating her one-year anniversary today,
54:11she's just a different lioness.
54:13And you've got to see it to believe it.
54:16But her walking has improved tenfold.
54:19She trusts people entirely.
54:23And she's got a blossoming relationship now with Rory, who's her next-door neighbour.
54:27He's the male who was also rescued from Ukraine.
54:30But she's constantly flirting and being submissive with him.
54:34She's a happy lioness.
54:35And that's what it's all about. That's why we do what we do.
54:39They are such majestic creatures.
54:41And what do you hope to see in the coming years in regards to the rescued lions?
54:45Is there any hope to rescue any other animals in the coming years?
54:50Yeah, with the lions, so with this new habitat that we've built for them,
54:53the Lion Rescue Centre, a state-of-the-art facility for them.
54:56So hopefully, in time, we might be able to integrate one or two together,
55:01or three or four.
55:02Who knows?
55:03And maybe build a little mini pride with the Ukrainian rescued lions.
55:08And yes, I can guarantee there will be more rescued cats coming to the sanctuary.
55:14And maybe not at the sanctuary.
55:15Maybe we'll just be supporting rescues, and not just here in the UK, but globally.
55:20So that's our role, and that's what we're here for, to give these cats a second chance.
55:26And we've already seen it already.
55:28This year, we've provided four cats that we rescued.
55:33Bob, Blob, who is a bobcat, he was going to be euthanized.
55:37The same with Frank, who's the only UK's Asian golden cat.
55:41Bosun, a fishing cat, and Reese, a Eurasian lynx.
55:44So there are four new rescues that we've already welcomed this year.
55:47And there will be more to come.
55:50Cam, thanks so much for joining us on the program.
55:53It's been great speaking to you.
55:54Thanks.
55:55Have a lovely day, all right?
55:56Such a heartwarming story, but time for a quick look at the weather.
56:06Tonight is looking mild, with some clouds scattered in Dartford and Medway, clear night skies elsewhere.
56:12In season tomorrow morning, cloudy weather in the north, some sun in the south.
56:16Temperatures rising to 20, and then staying there into the afternoon, rising up to 23 down in Royal Tunbridge Wells.
56:23A lot more sunshine across the county.
56:25And now for your outlook, sunshine on Wednesday with highs of 20 degrees.
56:30Same highs on Thursday, sun on Friday.
56:34Now it's time for the end of the program.
56:37It's been great speaking to you.
56:38That's all.
56:39Catch up with the Bulletin with Kristen later on.
56:41I'll see you very, very soon.
56:43Goodbye.
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