Repaired Marlow bridge reopens after overweight lorry caused damage in September
The two day Hennessy meeting gets underway this afternoon
Heathrow third runway 'to breach climate change laws'
A lot more sunshine today than we have seen recently.
There are calls for Reading's disused prison to become a permanent arts centre.
Rob England
BBC News online
That's all for today from our local live service.
Join us again from 8:00 on Monday for all your latest news, sport, weather and travel updates.
You can keep in touch via our Facebook, external and Twitter, external pages.
Have a great weekend!
Rob England
BBC News online
Around 6,000 comics, movie and science fiction fans will gather in Reading this weekend for the town's first ever Comic-Con.
Actors from film and TV shows will be at the Rivermead Leisure Complex alongside memorabilia stalls and a retro gaming area.
Famous TV film and television props will be in attendance, such as a replica of the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones and Doctor Emmett Brown's time travelling DeLorean from Back to the Future.
Tune in to BBC South Today at 18:30 to find out more from our reporter, Ben Moore.
Image source, Reading Comic-Con 2016Organisers say the set up is well underway at the Rivermead Leisure Complex
At a time when local pubs are frequently closing, one public house is bucking the trend. The Ibex in the West Berkshire village of Chaddleworth reopens tonight after being shut for the last three years.
BBC Radio Berkshire's Sue Kinnear found out more about the opening night on her show earlier today.
We asked voters in the PM's Maidenhead constituency if there should be a political party focused on women's interests.
Voters in the PM's Maidenhead seat asked about a political party for women's interests.
Read More
Adam Whitty
BBC Berkshire
Nicky Henderson is a man in need of good news.
The Lambourn-based trainer had a horrible afternoon at Cheltenham a fortnight ago, when he was forced to retire one horse, before another sadly had to be put down.
Nicky Henderson hopes he can recover from a tricky few weeks to win the Hennessy Gold Cup
But he is now hoping for a change of fortunes ahead of the prestigious Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday.
He has three runners for the race on Sunday, including one of the favourites, Vyta du Roc.
There will be live coverage of the race across the afternoon on BBC Radio Berkshire.
The Swinley Forest Santa Dash is taking place this Sunday.
All the money raised goes towards the Thames Valley Hospice, and their Chief Executive Debbie Raven told BBC Radio Berkshire's Chris Hollins how the money will make a difference.
Toby Wadey
BBC Berkshire Online
This video shows how a bust of the late Ron Piggott, who secured £94,000 of funds to save his church's dilapidated steeple, was intricately carved.
Mr Piggott died aged 82 in October before getting a chance to see how the money he campaigned to raise was used to restore St Mary the Virgin in Datchet, near Windsor.
To honour Mr Piggott, the church decided to pay tribute to him in the form of a stone sculpture.
Allow YouTube content?
This article contains content provided by Google YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Google’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Stone specialist Jem Hobbs said: "A clay maquette was made and then every detail has been hand carved in stone to create Ron’s likeness and capture his characteristics for years to come."
BBC Travel
There are currently long delays on the M25 clockwise between J10 and J16 at the M40.
BBC Radio Berkshire's David Prever discussed the idea with two campaigners calling for the venue to remain a cultural centre.
A Thames Valley Police dog and his handler have received commendations for their outstanding work during a burglary at a property Bicester.
PC Mills and Cody, the police dog, received the commendations at a ceremony at the Force’s Training Centre in Sulhamstead, near Reading, on Thursday.
The commendations reflect their work during a response to a report of a burglary.
Image source, TVPUpon arrival, PC Mills and Cody were confronted by a man who had armed himself with two metal bars.
The man confronted PC Mills and, during a struggle to detain him, PC Mills was struck on the head with one of the metal bars.
Cody took hold of the other metal bar, to prevent the offender from using it.
PC Mills received a serious injury to his head but managed to detain the man until other officers arrived.
Toby Wadey
BBC Berkshire Online
Streatley Hill will remain closed at the junction with the A329 until 16:00 GMT on Monday, according to West Berkshire Council.
The road was shut after a lorry became wedged between two buildings as the driver attempted a tight turn.
A council spokesman said work to make the building which was hit safe is taking longer than first anticipated.
He added that the road will have to be closed again in the New Year to complete the work.
Image source, Tim SchulzThe road was shut after a lorry became wedged between two buildings as the driver attempted a tight turn
Toby Wadey
BBC Berkshire Online
A court has upheld a council decision to close a food shop infested with cockroaches and rats.
Hygiene inspectors visited Reading Quality Foods and Al-Muzammil Halal Meat to discover “10 to 15 rats running throughout the store”.
Photographs taken at the premises showed cockroaches crawling over food preparation areas, droppings sprawled across the floor and items on display which had been gnawed by rats.
Image source, Reading Borough CouncilHygiene inspectors visited Reading Quality Foods and Al-Muzammil Halal Meat to discover “10 to 15 rats running throughout the store”
Areas outside the store were littered with waste and disused equipment encrusted with food, Reading Borough Council said.
Reading Magistrates confirmed on 18 November that the authority had made the correct decision in issuing a closure notice to the Northumberland Avenue shop.
Image source, Reading Borough CouncilPhotographs taken at the premises showed cockroaches crawling over food preparation areas
Toby Wadey
BBC Berkshire Online
Reading v Bristol City (Saturday, 15:00 GMT)
Adam Whitty
BBC Berkshire
I would be surprised if many Reading fans were expecting the club to be compared to Barcelona this season.
Well former Royals boss Martin Allen said as much on a television highlights programme on Saturday night, having just watched Jaap Stam's side coast to a 3-0 win over Burton, and climb to third in the table
Jaap Stam says it's a 'good thing' that Reading are being noticed outside of Berkshire
Quotes like these have become something of the norm in recent weeks, with Reading's form - and their style of play - beginning to turn heads in the national press, as well as at BBC Radio Berkshire.
According to Jaap Stam though, it is completely deserved.
"I think it's good that people are beginning to take notice because the players deserve it."
An appeal has been made for information about the theft of four giant poppies in Bracknell Forest.
The poppies were collected earlier this week to be stored away for the year, but of the 30 poppies which had been installed, four were missing with "clear evidence that they had been stolen".
Image source, Bracknell Forest CouncilThe poppies which have been stolen had been placed in Raeburn Way, Sandhurst; on the 3M Roundabout; in Foresters Way ; and on the Bowland Drive/ New Forest Ride roundabout.
Cllr Dorothy Hayes MBE, executive member for environmental services, said: “It is utterly shameful to steal items which are a simple memorial to those who gave their lives in armed conflicts. It is a crime against the Bracknell Forest community."
Reading v Bristol City (Saturday, 15:00 GMT)
Adam Whitty
BBC Berkshire
I would be surprised if many Reading fans were expecting the club to be compared to Barcelona this season.
Well former Royals boss Martin Allen said as much on a television highlights programme on Saturday night, having just watched Jaap Stam's side coast to a 3-0 win over Burton, and climb to third in the table.
Jaap Stam says it's a 'good thing' that Reading are being noticed outside of Berkshire
Quotes like these have become something of the norm in recent weeks, with Reading's form - and their style of play - beginning to turn heads in the national press, as well as at BBC Radio Berkshire.
According to Jaap Stam though, it is completely deserved.
"I think it's good that people are beginning to take notice because the players deserve it."
Reading boss Jaap Stam says his players have deserved added media interest after the club's climb to third in the Championship.
Read MoreToby Wadey
BBC Berkshire Online
A stone carving has been created in tribute to a community stalwart who secured £94,000 of funding to save his church’s dilapidated steeple.
Ron Piggott, former treasurer of St Mary the Virgin in Datchet, near Windsor, died in October aged 82 before the work had been completed.
Reverend Peter Wyard said Mr Piggott, who moved to the parish 40 years ago, successfully led a campaign to restore the building to its former glory.
The carving, completed by stone specialist Jem Hobbs from photographs supplied by Mr Piggott’s family, will be installed at the site in December.
Mr Hobbs, of contractors Cliveden Conservation, said: “I felt honoured to create this carving of Ron Piggott to mark his incredible achievement".
Sarah Lee
South Online
A Grade II-listed prison, once home to Oscar Wilde, should become a permanent arts centre, campaigners have said.
Reading Prison hosted a temporary exhibition inside the Victorian building, which included performances from Actor Ralph Fiennes and singer Patti Smith.
Image source, Marcus J LeithMore than 50,000 people have visited the site since it opened in September.
Artangel, which organised the project, said the venue should remain as an arts venue for future use.
Analysts are predicting more than a billion pounds will be spent in today's Black Friday sales.
Most of the money will be spent online and not in the shops.
BBC Breakfast have been at a parcel distribution centre in Reading where they are gearing up for a busy few days.
BBC Breakfast have sent Ben Thompson to Reading
Bridgitte Tetteh
BBC Radio Berkshire reporter
Marlow Bridge reopened this morning two months after it was closed for essential repair work and safety checks.
Bob Johnson, the town's mayor, was the first motorist to drive across the bridge since it was closed in September.
The council closed the bridge to traffic after a 37-tonne lorry attempted to cross
He told us: "The major problem has been in local trade, there's no question about it, there's been some serious reductions in people coming into the town.
"Mainly not because they don't want to come here but because it's been difficult to get here."
The council closed the bridge to traffic after 37-tonne lorry attempted to cross, despite it having a three-tonne weight limit.
The lorry driver lost his job over the incident.
