Decision to close West Berkshire libraries to be made by parish councils
Widespread travel disruption expected ahead of Christmas getaway
Weather latest: Storm Barbara moving in
Updates from Friday 23 December
Rob England
BBC South
Thank you for joining us again today on Berkshire's Local Live service.
We'll be back on Wednesday for all your latest news, travel, weather and sport.
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Safe travels, and happy holidays.
Reading East MP Rob Wilson has spoken out about the decision to close of the Royal Berkshire Hospital's hydrotherapy pool.
The closure, to come into effect from 31st March 2017, was announced by Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust in November.
After meeting with the hospital's senior management, Reading East MP Rob Wilson said the trust "did not provide any robust evidence or proper explanation as to why it has taken this decision."
Mr Wilson also criticised the lack of consultation with "patients, local charities or support groups" and said there had not been any consideration for "alternative provision for service-users."
The trust decided to discontinue their hydrotherapy service as it wasn't "cost effective" and benefited less than 5% of patients requiring physiotherapy.
Head of Therapies, Jill Gillespie-Shahabi, said: “We know that this service is enjoyed by a small number of users, but equally, we have to make difficult decisions that demonstrate the best use of NHS facilities and money."
Police have released further details following a road traffic collision yesterday in which two people were seriously injured.
At around 05:45 GMT, Thursday 22 December, a red Peugeot 306 and a grey Peugeot 5008 collided on Goring Lane in Reading, between Lockram Lane and Man's Hill.
Both drivers had to be cut from their vehicles, and are currently being treated in hospital.
Thames Valley Police are appealing for witnesses.
High-flying Reading are at home to 10th place Norwich on Boxing Day.
Here are some vital stats:
Read a full preview here.
A man pretending to be a police officer has gained entry to and searched an elderly woman's house in Slough.
At around 15:30 on Monday 19 December the offender approached the woman, claiming to be an officer investigating burglaries in the area, and searched the property whilst she made him a cup of tea. Nothing was taken.
He is described as white, in his 30s and around 6ft 2 tall.
The man was also carrying a notebook and wearing a black tunic with numbers on the shoulders.
Thames Valley Police are appealing to anyone who may have seen the man, and also encourage people to read their guidelines on rogue traders., external
A union boss claims contract cleaners on the Great Western Railway are being "mercilessly exploited".
The dispute, which involves almost 200 workers, began at 06:00 today.
Image source, GWRGWR said it is aware of the action by one of its contractors but added it would not impact on rail services
The Rail, Maritime and Transport union are calling for the cleaners, who work for agency Servest UK, to be made permanent GWR staff.
Mick Cash, RMT general secretary, said: "GWR and Servest UK can bring an immediate resolution to this dispute by addressing the issues over pay and other grievances."
A second 24-hour strike by contract cleaners on the Great Western Railway is under way.
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Jack Winstanley
BBC Berkshire Sport Reporter
London Irish's "wing wizard" Topsy Ojo is returning to the side to face Richmond tomorrow.
The Championship game on Christmas Eve will be his first start since the league win over Cornish Pirates in November.
It is the Exiles first championship game since the 3rd December after two wins in the British and Irish Cup against Cornish Pirates.
Image source, Khachfe/JMP/REX/ShutterstockA woman accused of breaching a family court order, has been told she can spend Christmas at home.
She could still face a jail sentence in the New Year after she named her teenage daughter when being interviewed by a Polish journalist in Polish.
At a hearing in Reading today, the woman, from near Oxford, appeared before Judge Simon Oliver.
John Hemming
Social services bosses at Oxfordshire County Council had accused her of being in contempt of court by breaching an order and had asked for her to be committed to prison.
Former Liberal Democrat MP John Hemming, who campaigns for improvements in the family justice system, described the timing of the court appearance is cruel, and claimed it raises "free speech issues".
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Reading could have midfielder John Swift back from an ankle injury he picked up on England Under-21 duty.
Jaap Stam also has Danny Williams available following suspension for the red card he was shown in the 5-0 defeat by Fulham on 3 December.
Image source, PAPreview followed by live coverage of Boxing Day's Championship game between Reading and Norwich City.
Norwich have lost seven of their past nine games, and boss Alex Neil could recall Alex Tettey and Steven Naismith.
Winger Matt Jarvis is in line for a return to the squad, having missed six months with knee ligament damage.
Third-placed Reading inflict an eighth defeat in 10 Championship games on Norwich to keep up the pressure on the top two.
Read MoreThree British Airways passengers had a once-in-a-lifetime flight after finding they were the only ones on board.
Lawrie-Lin Waller, 33, said she and her friends were upgraded to business class, treated to bottles of champagne, and posed for selfies with the captain.
Image source, Laura StevensLawrie-Lin Waller said she and her friends were upgraded to business class
And on their trip from Gibraltar to Heathrow on 17 December, her friends Laura Stevens, 34, and Sarah Hunt, 35, enjoyed three-course meals.
Ms Waller said: "We're never going to experience anything like that again."
A second 24-hour strike by contract cleaners on the Great Western Railway is under way.
Read MoreWork being conducted on the new Crossrail will cause services to be disrupted until early January.
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Police have cordoned off a green space in a residential area after a 16-year-old boy was assaulted.
The force was called to reports of the victim being attacked and sustaining serious injuries to his armpit at around 20:56 GMT yesterday.
A 59-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident in Long Grove, Baughurst, on the Berkshire/Hampshire border.
The cordon remains in place.
Patrick O'Hagan
BBC Berkshire political reporter
Nine years after taking on the top job at Slough Borough Council, chief executive Ruth Bagley's career at the authority is over.
She had been on extended sick leave since the autumn.
Image source, Slough Borough CouncilShe had been on extended sick leave since the autumn
It's been clear since August that relations between the new team of councillors at the top of the authority and Ruth Bagley were frosty at best.
The fact she's now lost her job is no surprise, nor is the fact we don't know how much money she's been given to leave the job - which those who know her well say she loved.
A 41-year-old mother has been assaulted in a Bracknell car park whilst she was standing with her children.
She was approached by a man in the Lily Hill Car Park at about 14:20 GMT on Wednesday 21 December.
The offender has been described as short, white and wearing a blue tracksuit.
The woman sustained minor injuries which did not require hospital treatment.
Reading Borough Council are advising that all your packaging, wrapping paper, greetings cards and plastic bottles can be put into the red recycling bins and boxes for collection this Christmas.
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Toby Wadey
BBC South
A second 24-hour strike by contract cleaners on the Great Western Railway is under way.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union employed by Servest UK began the industrial action at 06:00 GMT.
Image source, GWRThe union claims agency workers should be made permanent GWR staff and that there is currently a "two tier" system.
GWR said it was aware of the strike and that rail services were expected to run as scheduled.
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