Cocaine worth nearly £20m found in banana shipment
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Cocaine worth nearly £20m found in banana shipment
• Hampshire Police and Thames Valley Police specialist unit helped move the drugs to secure location.
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The local news that matters this morning
Here's the local news from the past 24 hours, made easy to digest.
 | BBC Berkshire RSS feed · today Natural History Museum's new storage facility• BBC Radio Berkshire goes behind the scenes to see the new facility being built in Shinfield. |
 | Reading Borough Council News · today Dangerous Tree to be Felled in Caversham Court Gardens• Mature beech tree to be felled due to extensive internal decay Tree's location poses significant risk to public safety Four-metre-tall monolith to be retained to preserve its legacy |
 | Reading Borough Council News · today Programme of improvement works approved for Caversham Court Gardens• Works will include repairs and conservation work to several listed buildings and structures New oak double gates will be installed at the main entrance to replace those damaged in car accident |
 | BBC Berkshire RSS feed · today PM invited to Thames Valley in push for devolution and mayor• He is invited by local council leader to visit the area in an attempt to restart mayoral plans. |
 | Reading Borough Council News · today Warning after more than 300 unsafe squishy toys seized by Reading Trading Standards• Official Reading council press RSS, meetings and service updates. |
 | BBC Berkshire RSS feed · today Soapbox race 'fantastic' for local economy• Krazy Races transformed Newbury town centre into race track, as competitors faced off for charity. |
 | BBC Berkshire RSS feed · today Bus routes for fun family day out in the South• We take look at bus routes for family day out across the south of England this summer. |
 | BBC Berkshire RSS feed · today Crackdown on predators targeting women and girls• The initiative was started by Thames Valley Police and then rolled out across the country. |
 | BBC Berkshire RSS feed · today Gangs, violence and dumped dead animals: The hidden world of illegal hare hunts• Farmers describe attacks and police receive nearly 9,000 reports of banned hare coursing. |
 | BBC Berkshire RSS feed · today Large heath fire leaves land and vehicles burnt• Crews tackle large blaze on Goring Heath, which has destroyed an area of land and left several vehicles burnt out. |
 | BBC Berkshire RSS feed · today Disabled residents asked to shape region's future• The first West Berkshire Disability Access Forum meeting is being held on 6 August to shape policy. |
 | BBC Berkshire RSS feed · today What is causing the summer wildfires?• number of factors are creating ideal conditions for fire, making wildfires increasingly common. |
 | BBC Berkshire RSS feed · today South weekly quiz: Which song featured this man's mandolin?• Test your knowledge of news from Hampshire, Berkshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire and the Isle of Wight with our quiz. |
 | BBC Berkshire RSS feed · today Travelodge accused of not accepting wrongdoing• MP Freddie Van Mierlo raises concerns after review is launched into the hotel chain's security. |
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Every Tuesday 10.30 - 11.30am · Reading Libraries · What's On Reading. Coffee Mornings at Southcote Library2026-08-08T12:00:00Z · What's On Reading. Goan Food & Cultural Festival 2026Wednesday 29th July - 7pm · Walk Reading · What's On Reading. Reading - the home of photography2026-07-29T09:00:00Z · Reading Museum · What's On Reading. Reading Museum's Teddy Bears PicnicEvery Tuesday 10.15 - 10.45am and 11.15 - 11.45am · Reading Libraries · What's On Reading. Rhymetime at Caversham LibraryEvery Tuesday and Thursday 10.30 - 11am · Reading Libraries · What's On Reading. Rhymetime at Palmer Park LibraryWednesdays, 10:30-11:00 · Reading Museum · What's On Reading. Rhymetime at Reading MuseumEvery Tuesday 10.15 - 10.45am and 11.15 - 11.45am and Thursday 10.15 - 10.45am and 11.15 - 11.45am · Reading Libraries · What's On Reading. Rhymetime at the NEW Reading Central Library
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A small local fact
Reading and Maidenhead are both Elizabeth line endpoints on the western branch, so London transport disruption can be a genuinely local Thames Valley story.
Did you know? · Thames Valley
Brunel's Great Western Railway connected Reading to London on 30 March 1840, cutting the journey from London to roughly one hour and five minutes.
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