Berkshire live: Friday 25 November

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.

Reading Comic-Con 2016Copyright: Reading Comic-Con 2016

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.

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.

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. 

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.  

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."

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.

TVPCopyright: TVP

Upon 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.   

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. 

Tim SchulzCopyright: Tim Schulz

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.

Reading Borough CouncilCopyright: Reading Borough Council

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. 

Reading Borough CouncilCopyright: Reading Borough Council

• Plans to expand Heathrow will breach the government's own regulations on emissions, the Committee on Climate Change claims. The independent body said the proposals for a third runway will result in a 15% increase in aviation emissions by 2050
• Campaigners are calling for the Grade II listed Reading Prison to become a permanent arts centre following the success of a temporary exhibition
• Marlow Bridge has been reopened two months after it was closed for essential repair work and safety checks. This came the morning after The Great British Bake Off's Mary Berry switched on the town's Christmas lights. 

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

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".

Bracknell Forest CouncilCopyright: Bracknell Forest Council

The 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."

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.

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."