Drivers 'still unaware' of mobile phone punishments
Two-fifths of drivers are unaware they face
tougher punishments for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving, a study
has found.
Some 39% do not know that penalty points and
fines will double to six and £200 respectively from Wednesday, according to a Co-op
Insurance poll of 1,500 UK drivers conducted last week.
The statistics have been revealed four months
after lorry driver Tomasz Kroker was
jailed for 10 years
for ploughing into a stationary car on the A34 near Newbury while distracted by his phone.
The crash killed Tracy Houghton, 45, her sons Ethan, 13, and Joshua, 11, and her partner's daughter Aimee Goldsmith, also 11.
MP suggests work permit scheme ahead of Lords Brexit debate
Wokingham MP John Redwood has said the UK should adopt a work permit scheme for migrants.
Speaking ahead of a House of Lords debate on the Brexit bill, the former secretary of state for Wales told the BBC that the system should "not try to block talent" or those with "good qualifications".
"The problem is too many people are coming in to pick up very low paid jobs, keeping our wages down" he said.
And in a series of tweets, the Conservative backbencher said: "The EU should guarantee the rights of UK citizens on the continent. They are meant to be a bastion of liberal decent values."
He added that Brexit "means no European court, no budget contributions and no open borders we do not control".
Laser attacks on aircraft using Heathrow rose by a quarter last year,
new figures show.
Pilots taking off or landing at the airport suffered 151 incidents in
2016.
This is up from 121 during the previous year and was more than any other UK
airport, according to aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority.
ThinkstockCopyright: Thinkstock
Former RAF and British Airways pilot Steve Landells warned that shining a laser at an aircraft is "incredibly dangerous".
Mr Landells, flight safety specialist at pilots' association Balpa, said: "The power of these devices is increasing and we're concerned that, if left to escalate without significant intervention, we could see a serious incident happen in the near future."
Airing at 20:30 on BBC One, Richard Bilton revisits the town 10 years after reporting on how it was struggling to cope with the changing face of its population.
PACopyright: PA
Now he's back. He finds a town with a booming economy and new families arriving every day.
However, now-white British people are abandoning Slough, and some foreign workers say the dream is over.
Weather latest: Wet afternoon ahead
After a mild start it is set to turn colder this afternoon with occasional heavy showers.
Temperatures will drop to around 3C overnight and there is a chance that frost will develop by dawn.
BBCCopyright: BBC
Homeless drop-in centre launched
A new drop-in centre for homeless and vulnerable people in Wokingham has opened today.
It was launched by Wokingham In Need alongside the Salvation Army, which has provided the premises at the Citadel in the town.
The scheme will host workshops to help people find work and provide medical care.
A man has been charged with four drug dealing offences in Crowthorne.
Phillip Ferris, of Hinton Close, was charged with possession with intent to supply a class A drug - MDMA - on Saturday.
The 24-year-old was also charged with a further three counts of possessing and supplying cannabis, a class B drug.
He has been released on police bail and is scheduled to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Recovery underway on M4 westbound
One lane closed and very slow traffic due to accident involving one lorry and a car on the M4 westbound between J14 for Hungerford and J15 for Swindon East.
After a quiet opening, the Seagull's Sam Baldock hit the post with a curling 20-yard shot before latching onto Bruno's lofted pass to fire past Ali Al-Habsi.
BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport
Dale Stephens set up Jamie Murphy to chip in the second and French winger Anthony Knockaert slid in a late third.
Reading have taken only five points from their five games in February and Leeds' win over Sheffield Wednesday in Saturday's early kick-off meant the Royals dropped to fifth position, 10 points from the top two.
Live Reporting
John Hudson and Alex Regan
All times stated are UK
Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images View more on twitterView more on twitter View more on twitterView more on twitter ThinkstockCopyright: Thinkstock View more on twitterView more on twitter View more on twitterView more on twitter PACopyright: PA PACopyright: PA BBCCopyright: BBC PACopyright: PA View more on twitterView more on twitter View more on twitterView more on twitter GoogleCopyright: Google Ian SCopyright: Ian S BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport
Latest PostThat's all for today
Toby Wadey
BBC South
Thank you for joining us again today.
We'll be back at 08:00 tomorrow with all Berkshire's latest news, travel, sport and weather.
Stay in touch via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Slough: What is it like to live in 'immigration town'?
Richard Bilton
BBC Panorama
Walk down Slough's High Street, and you can see how the town has made its money: this place is built on immigration.
Since the 1920s, people have come here from elsewhere in the UK and around the world to look for work.
The town's enormous trading estate welcomed them all. And everyone has benefited.
Today, Slough has one of the most successful economies in the country.
Unemployment is just 1.4%, and the average wage is £558 per week. But Slough is not quite the model of integration it seems.
Continue reading here .
Sore everything...
Drivers 'still unaware' of mobile phone punishments
Two-fifths of drivers are unaware they face tougher punishments for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving, a study has found.
Some 39% do not know that penalty points and fines will double to six and £200 respectively from Wednesday, according to a Co-op Insurance poll of 1,500 UK drivers conducted last week.
The statistics have been revealed four months after lorry driver Tomasz Kroker was jailed for 10 years for ploughing into a stationary car on the A34 near Newbury while distracted by his phone.
The crash killed Tracy Houghton, 45, her sons Ethan, 13, and Joshua, 11, and her partner's daughter Aimee Goldsmith, also 11.
MP suggests work permit scheme ahead of Lords Brexit debate
Wokingham MP John Redwood has said the UK should adopt a work permit scheme for migrants.
Speaking ahead of a House of Lords debate on the Brexit bill, the former secretary of state for Wales told the BBC that the system should "not try to block talent" or those with "good qualifications".
"The problem is too many people are coming in to pick up very low paid jobs, keeping our wages down" he said.
And in a series of tweets, the Conservative backbencher said: "The EU should guarantee the rights of UK citizens on the continent. They are meant to be a bastion of liberal decent values."
He added that Brexit "means no European court, no budget contributions and no open borders we do not control".
Keep up with live updates from the Lords' debate here.
Laser attacks on increase at Heathrow
Laser attacks on aircraft using Heathrow rose by a quarter last year, new figures show.
Pilots taking off or landing at the airport suffered 151 incidents in 2016.
This is up from 121 during the previous year and was more than any other UK airport, according to aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority.
Former RAF and British Airways pilot Steve Landells warned that shining a laser at an aircraft is "incredibly dangerous".
Mr Landells, flight safety specialist at pilots' association Balpa, said: "The power of these devices is increasing and we're concerned that, if left to escalate without significant intervention, we could see a serious incident happen in the near future."
Icy weather forecast sees gritters return
Reading Buses goes contactless
Reading Buses are accepting contactless payments from today.
It is the first independent bus operator in the country to go fully contactless.
Transport minister Andrew Jones said the system would be more convenient for customers and cut queues.
“The roll-out of contactless payment technology on Reading’s bus network is great news for the many passengers," he said.
Police launch new recruitment drive
The first major recruitment drive since Thames Valley Police lowered its academic entry requirements launches today.
Previously, two A-Levels at grade A to C or equivalent were required, but now two A-Levels grades A to E or equivalent will be sufficient.
Slough immigration documentary on tonight
Panorama visits Slough tonight to explore how its community has been changed by immigration .
Airing at 20:30 on BBC One, Richard Bilton revisits the town 10 years after reporting on how it was struggling to cope with the changing face of its population.
Now he's back. He finds a town with a booming economy and new families arriving every day.
However, now-white British people are abandoning Slough, and some foreign workers say the dream is over.
Weather latest: Wet afternoon ahead
After a mild start it is set to turn colder this afternoon with occasional heavy showers.
Temperatures will drop to around 3C overnight and there is a chance that frost will develop by dawn.
Homeless drop-in centre launched
A new drop-in centre for homeless and vulnerable people in Wokingham has opened today.
It was launched by Wokingham In Need alongside the Salvation Army, which has provided the premises at the Citadel in the town.
The scheme will host workshops to help people find work and provide medical care.
Spring to officially start on Wednesday
Man faces drug dealing charges
A man has been charged with four drug dealing offences in Crowthorne.
Phillip Ferris, of Hinton Close, was charged with possession with intent to supply a class A drug - MDMA - on Saturday.
The 24-year-old was also charged with a further three counts of possessing and supplying cannabis, a class B drug.
He has been released on police bail and is scheduled to appear at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Recovery underway on M4 westbound
One lane closed and very slow traffic due to accident involving one lorry and a car on the M4 westbound between J14 for Hungerford and J15 for Swindon East.
Town centre route partially closed for 15 weeks
Motorists driving through Wokingham town centre are being warned to expect disruption after a key road was partially closed for 15 weeks today.
Peach Street will be reduced to one lane until early June so a 1960s tower block can be demolished.
It is part of an ongoing regeneration project in the area.
A34 questions sought
Known for long tailbacks, there have also been a number of high profile fatal crashes on the A34 between Winchester to Bicester recently.
BBC South would like to know what questions you have about the 62-mile route.
Click here to find out more.
Reading slip to 5th after Brighton defeat
BBC Sport
Reading slipped to fifth in the Championship at the weekend after losing 3-0 to Brighton .
After a quiet opening, the Seagull's Sam Baldock hit the post with a curling 20-yard shot before latching onto Bruno's lofted pass to fire past Ali Al-Habsi.
Dale Stephens set up Jamie Murphy to chip in the second and French winger Anthony Knockaert slid in a late third.
Reading have taken only five points from their five games in February and Leeds' win over Sheffield Wednesday in Saturday's early kick-off meant the Royals dropped to fifth position, 10 points from the top two.