Nathan Briant

Reading Festival will be allowed to use its main stage on Thursdays from 17:00 to 23:30 from 2027, adding a fourth day of music despite objections from local residents concerned about noise and sleep disruption. Organizer Festival Republic says the extension will provide better value for weekend-ticket holders and give festival-goers supervised entertainment, while an assessment concluded it would not adversely affect nearby residents. The festival will also add £1 to each ticket from next year, with more than £100,000 annually expected to support people and businesses in Reading.

Reading Festival has received approval to use its main stage on Thursdays from 17:00 to 23:30 from 2027, extending the event to four days of music. Festival Republic says the change will provide better value for ticket holders and keep younger attendees entertained, while residents' associations argue that late amplified music will disrupt sleep on working nights. Festival-goers will pay an additional £1 per ticket, expected to raise more than £100,000 annually for people and businesses in Reading, with the allocation to be decided jointly by the organiser, the council and the local community.

Deputy High Court judge and Brasenose College principal John Bowers received a formal warning after accumulating 12 licence points from speeding and a red‑light offence, resulting in a six‑month driving ban. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office reported his apology and acknowledgement that he should have exercised greater care. The warning was issued by the Lady Chief Justice with the Lord Chancellor’s agreement. Bowers will step down in October and be succeeded by British ambassador Alyson King.

Private hire operators in Reading protested new council rules that restrict the age and emissions standards of vehicles, arguing the changes harm their businesses and provide little transition time. Drivers said newer low‑emission vehicles have reduced range and make long trips difficult, while some operators cannot afford replacements. The council said it is willing to meet drivers and discuss the shift to more environmentally compliant fleets.

Henley Festival relaxed its usual black-tie dress code due to a heatwave, allowing attendees to remove jackets as temperatures reached 32C. The riverside music and arts event, expected to draw about 27,000 people, features performances from acts including Boy George & Culture Club, Ezra Collective, Sugababes, Lulu and others. Soprano Emily Wishart discussed the significance of performing at the event, which also includes a 90s DJ set from Jo Whiley. The festival runs through Sunday and is sponsored by investment firm Hemani.

Layla Moran criticised the limited CCTV coverage in central Oxford after her electric cargo bike was stolen near The Plain. Thames Valley Police said it is assessing possible camera relocations and working to restore full operational capability after technical and ownership changes. Local officials reported transmitter issues and ongoing repairs affecting some cameras, while police rely on footage from surrounding areas and businesses to investigate crime.

Staff and former employees celebrated the centenary of Andover War Memorial Hospital, first opened in 1926 with locally raised funds and now part of the NHS. Attendees highlighted the hospital’s strong community spirit and personal ties for many workers. Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust leadership affirmed continued investment, emphasizing the hospital’s secure future, its diagnostic improvements and its role in neighbourhood healthcare. A public celebration is planned for August to mark the milestone.

A Thames Valley Police trainee, James Wood, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had he not resigned after colleagues reported racist and Islamophobic comments. A disciplinary panel found his behaviour offensive and contrary to policing standards, noting incidents involving remarks about past alcohol use and an offensive response to a TikTok video on deadly flooding in Pakistan. Wood did not attend the hearing and objected to further contact from the force, calling it harassment.

A man who murdered his former partner in their previous home in Reading was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of more than 18 years. Edwine Kiplangat fatally attacked Linner Sang after threatening her over the return of his passport and searching online for flights and consequences for migrants convicted of murder. The court found he acted with a settled intention to kill, and he also admitted assaulting two people who attempted to intervene. Deportation is expected following his eventual release.

Planning approval has been granted for the return of a 19th‑century bronze statue of Hercules and Achelous to Windsor Castle’s renovated Venus Garden. Removed from Kew Gardens last autumn, the sculpture — purchased by George IV and historically installed at Windsor — will be placed in a fountain as part of designs by King Charles III. The statue has moved locations repeatedly over the past century after periods in storage and at Hampton Court Palace, and the redesigned garden will be open to visitors until September.

Investigations into the death of Lance Bombardier Ciara Sullivan, who fell from her horse at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May, are expected to take months as inquiries by the Health and Safety Executive and Defence Safety Authority proceed. A provisional post‑mortem indicated chest injuries as the cause of death. The inquest was adjourned to allow investigative work to continue, with the coroner offering condolences to Sullivan’s family. Sullivan, a member of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, was described by her commanding officer as an exceptional soldier and horsewoman. King Charles III and members of the royal family were present at the event when the incident occurred.

Two men were injured in late-night assaults in Reading, prompting police to cordon off parts of Castle Street and Hosier Street. Both men sustained non-life-threatening injuries, with one later discharged from hospital. Police arrested two local men, aged 29 and 52, who remain in custody, and appealed for witnesses to come forward.

About two million litres of water were used to extinguish a major fire at the Daler-Rowney factory in Bracknell, prompting evacuations and environmental monitoring. Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service coordinated with six other services, while authorities assessed risks from debris and contamination. The Environment Agency and Thames Water are working with the company to manage and remove contaminated water, and a structured debrief is under way to review the response.