• July

A teenager had a pack of frozen peas to thank after being savaged by his pet dog.

Sam Betts, 17, from Chatham had to be airlifted to a hospital in Essex after the attack.

The previously docile Staffordshire bull terrier, which was destroyed after the incident, ripped part of its owner’s lip off.

Mr Betts’ mother, Lisa, said she put the bit of lip in a packet of frozen peas, after watching scenes from the BBBC hospital drama Holby City.

The devoted parents of a disabled man won £2.1 million in compensation for him from the NHS in the High Court.

Kenny Saunders, now 21, was starved of oxygen at birth at the former All Saints Hospital, Chatham.

He has the mental age of a six-year-old, suffers from cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and severe learning and behavioural problems.

Father, Mick Saunders said: “This is the start of the rest of Kenny’s life.”

A 52-year old pilot was seriously hurt after his plane plunged into an orchard and burst into flames.

The aircraft was left a burnt-out wreck after crashing near Matts Hill Road, Rainham.

Residents of a nearby house fought the flames with fire extinguishers and attempted to get the pilot out before the emergency services arrived.

A strange creature was spotted swimming against the tide near the Esplanade, Rochester.

One woman, who thought she had spied Medway’s own version of the Loch Ness Monster, said: “It was about 30ft long. It was undulating like an eel and swimming towards Amadeus nightclub.”

•August

This month began with thousands of climate activists descending upon Hoo to protest about plans for a new coal-fired power station at Kingsnorth.

A total of 100 people were arrested during the week lonh camp; 46 were charged with offences ranging from obstruction, to possession of a bladed weapon.

Young student Kelsey Holsten was left bruised and battered when she was brutally attacked at a funfair.

The 17-year-old from Gillingham was kicked, punched and stamped on while her attackers’ friends filmed the beating on their mobile phones.

After the incident, which took place at The Strand Leisure Park, Gillingham, on August 18, Kelsey said she was too frightened to go out on her own.

At the end of August it was revealed Medway had been ranked 14th on a “fat map” showing the 20 worst obesity hot spots in Britain.

The research was carried out by medical data analysts Dr Foster Intelligence.

Most of the top 20 were in the north of England, with only Medway from the south east making the table.

Bosses at Medway Council said it was already tackling obesity as part of efforts aimed at improving community health and safety.

The number of weddings in Medway tripled on a certain Friday in mid-August, because it was the eighth day of the eighth month, of 2008.

Usually registrars expect to record three to four weddings on a summer Friday, but on that day they recorded 13.

James Brown, superintendent registrar for Medway, said: “It was a monster job. We were doing weddings on the hour.”

•September

A wealthy businessman escaped a prison sentence after nearly four tons of guns and explosives were discovered in his semi-detached suburban home.

The stash was part of a militaria collection owned by Michael Saffery.

Police found explosives scattered throughout his house in Darland Avenue, Gillingham.

Despite the property being at risk of blowing sky high judge Philip Statman decided not to jail Mr Saffery.

Instead he ordered him to pay £1,100 costs and received a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years and 180 hours of community service.

A jury cleared six eco-warriors of causing damage estimated at £30,000 during an attempt to shut down Kingsnorth Power Station.

Greenpeace protesters Huw Williams, Kevin Drake, Ben Stewart, Tim Hewke, Emily Hall and William Rose walked free from Maidstone Crown Court after they succesfully argued their chimney protest saved the planet from millions in environmental damage caused by coal production.

The defence case included testimony from leading scientists, including Nasa climate expert James Hansen.

There was misery for Gills fans as the blues suffered their worst defeat in nearly half a century.

The thrashing was dealt out away at Shrewsbury Town FC who put seven past a lacklustre Gillingham team.

Three wins on the bounce prior to the match had given Gillingham an abundance of confidence, but the bubble was burst in spectacular fashion at the Shrews ProStar Stadium.

Manager Mark Stimson said: “I thought it was going to be a really attractive game but it wasn’t to be.”