From the death of Princess Diana, the shape of the Earth, and the origin of Covid-19, conspiracy theories that have filled our minds with scepticism have never been more popular.

But have you ever heard of the 'bat beast' of Sandling Road? The 'Channel Triangle'? Or the big cats that live in Kent?

These are all conspiracy theories and urban legends relating to our county's rich history.

A book titled 'Legends of Kent', by long standing residents and authors Mike Hanagan and Pat Cox, even suggests Kent may have its very own Bermuda Triangle.

Countless aeroplanes and ships that have tried to cross part of the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida, have disappeared without explanation with some conspiracy theorist saying this section of the water has mystical powers.

For us Brits who live thousands of miles away, this may not seem like much of a threat but those living on the coast in Folkestone and Dover might want to be a bit more careful.

Hanagan and Cox show 84 ships have fallen victim to catastrophe at three points off the Kent coast, each forming a corner of what some have named the 'Channel Triangle'.

This theory dates back to the 17th century when the first recorded sinking happened in the area starting the chain of events.

This could just be a coincidence, but maybe avoid a swim in the Channel Triangle this summer.

Another mystery that's left people asking questions started during the Second World War in Aylesham.

Cox and Hanagan also say Spinney Wood saw action from V1 rockets that were launched by Hitler’s scientists in Europe.

The craters that were left by the bombs became known as the bomb-holes, and were popular play areas for children.

A scary "Leaf Man" was protecting the woods and stopping people entering.

Parents soon became concerned for the welfare of their children who went into the woods to collect treasures such as bullets and shrapnel.

Spinney Wood was guarded by sentries, and rumour soon spread that a scary "Leaf Man" was protecting the woods and stopping people entering.

Some say parents invented the 'Leaf Man' to frighten their children, and to keep them away but others have reported seeing him on their journeys according to Cox and Hanagan.

An expert who has spent many years researching conspiracy theories and urban legends says people turn to stories like these during times of crisis to help them cope.

Professor Karen Douglas from the university of Kent said: "Conspiracy theories do seem more popular than ever. They are all over social media and sometimes we even see them in the news, promoted by our political leaders.

"When official explanations are unsatisfying, people seem to turn to conspiracy theories. This is particularly the case during periods of crisis and uncertainty, when more people than usual turn to conspiracy theories in an attempt to cope with the situation."

During her research, Professor Douglas says she has come across some very unusual theories but one in particular stands out as the most obscure.

She added: "I have to say that the flat earth conspiracy theory is the most unusual one to me. Despite clear and consistent evidence that the earth is a globe, quite a lot of people believe that it is flat. Furthermore, some people who subscribe to this conspiracy theory believe that Australia doesn't exist and that anyone who says they are from there (or says they have been there) is therefore part of the conspiracy. I am from Australia so I find this particularly bizarre."

One thing many theories and legends have in common is the supernatural and that is no different here in Kent.

The Ghost of Blue Bell Hill is a well known legend that even to this day has drivers sceptical and avoiding the A229.

The stretch between Medway and Maidstone has been the topic of many ghostly sightings over the years with some linking it back to a crash from 1965.

Susan Browne and her two friends tragically died in a car crash the night before her wedding.

The 22-year-old was returning from her hen night when her Ford Cortina spun out of control on the A229, colliding with a Jaguar heading the other way.

But the tragedy has also left a mysterious legacy, with unexplained visions being reported throughout the 60s and 70s.

In 1962 Bob Vandepeer told the Kent Messenger he gave a lift to a girl on the hill only to later turn around and discover the hitchhiker had vanished in the back of the car.

In 1971 James Skene was driving home from work when a girl in her early 20s suddenly appeared in front of his car. He gave her a lift to Chatham, but when she got out she disappeared.

There have also been stories of a girl who stares into the eyes of drivers as she steps out into the road, unable to stop cars crashing into her - but when a driver checks to see if she is okay, she has vanished.

The legend is so widely believed a film was even made about it in 2014 by Sonya Roseman.

And it's not just ghosts paying Kent a visit, there have also been sightings of extraterrestrials.

A blog dedicated to UFOs and the paranormal says a creature described as a 'bat beast' with no head was spotted in the 60s in Maidstone.

A certain level of scepticism is of course healthy.

Four teenagers had been walking home from a party when they saw a UFO land in Sandling park. Moments later the creature was seen rustling in the bushes.

The author says the teenagers never did find out if the creature was linked to the UFO and the sighting remains a mystery to the friends to this day.

And speaking of unexpected sightings, Kent even has its own Facebook group dedicated to recording the movements of big cats.

Over the years the animals have been spotted in Herne Bay, Ashford, and Canterbury and are still being reported today.

In 2008, a pair of wild black leopards were feared to be on the loose around Thanet.

Five sightings from motorists and dog walkers described both a thick set black cat the size of a springer spaniel and another, taller, sleeker beast, the size of a German shepherd dog, on the prowl.

In one incident, the larger leopard was seen one evening in Northdown Park, Cliftonville, by a woman walking her two small dogs.

The dogs chased after it but froze in terror when the animal turned around and hissed at them. It then started walking towards the terrified woman who ran off with her pets, and she reported the matter to a passing police patrol.

Not everyone will believe these stories but Professor Douglas says challenging what we see can be good for our minds.

She added: "A certain level of scepticism is of course healthy. It would be very unwise to uncritically accept everything one sees or hears. Most successful conspiracy theories seem to contain many layers and details so that the whole theory becomes impossible to falsify. "

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