FUNDRAISING efforts by villagers have replaced a much-loved bench in Speldhurst.

It was first placed outside Speldhurst Post Office in Barden Road in 1992. However, last year thieves made off with it – leaving patrons of the Post Office with nowhere to sit.

President of Speldhurst Women's Institute Penny Gerrard was joined by fellow members of the community to celebrate the unveiling on Saturday.

She added: "It is well-used by all of the patrons and we are glad to have it back."

​Tunbridge Wells's Conservative MP Greg Clark increased his majority to 56 per cent at tonight's election - a feat not seen in two decades.
Claiming second place was Lib Dem David Hallas who took 26.1 per cent of the 50,420 votes cast.
Labour took third, although candidate Gary Heather saw his party's share of the vote drop by almost half.
Mr Clark said: "I feel very humbled that thousands more people gave me their support this time and would like to thank everyone who supported me."

The total turnout for the constituency was 68.3 per cent.
See next Friday's Courier for analysis and full report.

Ind Bradbury, Farel - 172
Cons Clark, Greg - 28,302
Grn Dawe, Hazel - 914
Lib Dem Hallas, David - 12,726
Lab Heather, Gary - 5,448
BNP McBride, Andrew - 704
UKIP Webb, Victor - 2,054

A Tonbridge man who killed his 25-day-old daughter the first time he was left alone with her was jailed for five years today.

Christopher Sellman of The Hurst, was sentenced today at Inner London Crown Court by High Court judge, Mr Justice Bean.

He was found guilty of manslaughter in March at Maidstone Crown Court.

Newborn Tiffany Sellman Burdge died in November 2008 after suffering heart failure and bleeding to the brain while alone with 24-year-old Sellman at their Greggswood Road home in Tunbridge Wells.

With time on spent in prison on remand and the usual discount Sellman is likely to walk free in 18 months.

The judge told Sellman he treated his daughter "roughly" and unlawfully killed her after she cried while he was playing a computer game.

"This is a tragic case," he said.

"Your daughter, Tiffany, was left in your care for the first time when she was only one month old.

"Within an hour she was effectively dead."

Throughout the police investigation, officers found Sellman could not give an accurate account of what had happened to the baby girl prior to his 999 call.

She turned blue and, despite attempts to save her, later died at King's College Hospital in London on November 1.

During the hearing the court heard relatives twice tried to alert Kent social services of the risk Sellman posed.

However, it later emerged the information was not passed on.