News

A young man died after a car plunged into the sea off Dover Eastern Docks, but police say it is not being treated as suspicious.

It was reported the vehicle drove at speed off the berth shortly after 6.00pm yesterday (21 December).

Dover lifeboat, the Dover Harbour Police, the Port Authority and the Langdon Coastguard Rescue Team responded to the emergency after a crane driver alerted the authorities.

The car was retrieved from the water two hours later by crane but the man inside was dead.

The identity of the man has not been released.

A fisherman is missing and feared dead after a trawler boat with seven people on board got into difficulties in the English Channel last night.

The 180-ton French boat Monbijou had six crew members on board and were rescued by helicopter 20 miles off Dungeness.

But a Dover Coastguard spokesman said a seventh crew member was still missing.

He said the search for the man would begin again at first light.

Firefighters in Dover fought a second major fire this weekend when a former college went up in flames.

Six crews from across East Kent were rushed to the derelict college in Folkestone Road at 2.00pm. (23 September).

At one stage they had to pull away from the three-storey Westmount building because of safety fears after part of the roof collapsed.

On Saturday (22 September) shoppers watched  as the former St Martin's Church on the corner of Priory Hill and High Street in Dover was badly damaged by fire.

Shoppers in Dover got more than they bargained for when a former church in the High Street was ravaged by fire today (22 September).

Hundreds of bystanders watched the drama unfold as thirty firefighters from across the district fought the blaze which started around midday.

Flames shot out from the roof and upper floor windows and a plume off smoke could be seen clearly from miles away.

The former United Reformed Church was currently being developed and the smart new flats in the building were nearing completion.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service said everyone had escaped safely from the building but nearby premises were evacuated as a precaution.

There were no reports of injuries.

Firefighters are remaining on the scene into Saturday evening and building inspectors were being called in to assess the safety of the structure.