WE HAVE rounded up some of this week’s most read stories, just in case you missed them.

1. Fire claims more lives in Berkshire despite decrease in number of incidents

Reading Chronicle:

MORE lives were lost to fires in Berkshire last year despite a drop in the number of incidents attended by firefighters, new statistics show.

The local situation mirrors that across England, with the chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council saying he is “very concerned” by the national situation and that fire services face “huge challenges”.

There were three fire-related fatalities in Berkshire in the 12 months to September last year, Home Office figures show – two of them occurring in homes in the area.

For the full story, CLICK HERE.

2. Reading man who has cerebral palsy to run from Greece to London to fight human trafficking

Reading Chronicle:

AN NHS psychologist who was born with cerebral palsy will be taking on an incredible 2,000-mile run to raise awareness of human trafficking.

Tom Crossland, 38, from Reading, will be running from Greece to London in an attempt to raise £50,000 for the TRIBE Freedom Foundation, a charity inspired by a 1,000 mile run to set up the first UK home for trafficked children.

For Tom, who was not able to walk until he was more than three years old and found it difficult to maintain his balance and stay on his feet as he grew up, running never came naturally.

For the full story, CLICK HERE.

3. Thames Valley Police officer saves swan from A33 Reading

Reading Chronicle:

A SWAN found walking along a busy Reading road has been saved by a police officer.

Thames Valley Police Roads Policing tweeted to explain an officer managed to save a swan which had been spotted walking along the A33 Reading.

The officer had been on their way to Reading Crown Court.

For the full story, CLICK HERE.

4. More patients on banned mixed-sex wards at Royal Berkshire Trust

Reading Chronicle:

MORE patients were placed on mixed-sex wards at the Royal Berkshire Trust last year – despite an NHS-wide ban.

A leading health think tank says rising demand is leaving staff with no choice but to break the rules – risking hefty fines when they do so.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust recorded 1,458 breaches of mixed-sex accommodation rules during 2019, NHS figures show.

For the full story, CLICK HERE.

5. Reading Oxford Road: Woman suffers burns and one man arrested

Reading Chronicle:

POLICE have cordoned off a house in Reading after a woman suffered burns.

At about 1.10 am this morning on Thursday, February 20, police were called to reports of an assault and a fear for welfare.

A woman in her 20s was rushed to hospital after suffering burns.

For the full story, CLICK HERE.