Twyford

Twyford Police are warning the public to take care with donations intended for charity, following a spate of thefts of charity bags containing clothes in Twyford.

A report was received of four men taking bags from outside a property on Springfield Park in Twyford on Friday 20 March.

Collection of these charity bags by anyone other than the authorised agent is a criminal offence.

PC Shaun Buckley, of Loddon Valley police said: “The company which collects these clothes on behalf of recognised charities clearly bears the ‘Clothes Aid’ logo on their vehicles. Staff carry ID cards and wear a uniform bearing the ‘Clothes Aid’ logo. The same logo is displayed on the charity collection bags.

“I would not want people to be put off donating clothes to charity in this way, but I would ask that if they witness anything suspicious or have any concerns about the people taking these items, please contact police.”

Anyone with any information should contact police via the Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505 or speak to one of your Twyford neighbourhood officers.

If you don’t want to speak to police or leave your name, call the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Wokingham

Children from Berkshire are being invited to Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre, Twyford next month (April) to find out about growing seeds.

The garden centre, which is located on Floral Mile, Twyford is offering youngsters who attend its Children’s Gardening Weekend on Good Friday, April 10, Saturday, April 11 and Easter Bank Holiday Monday, April 13 the opportunity to take part in free seed planting workshops.

Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre’s Manager, Errol Austin explained: “Gardening is great fun for all the family and we’re keen to encourage children to get involved.

“At the workshops children can create a ‘cress head’ and pot up a marrow or French bean seed, both of which they can take home. The workshops include free pots, compost and seeds and will run while our stocks of these last.

“The event has been made possible following the kind support of a number of our suppliers. Sutton Seeds have donated the cress seeds and seed suppliers Thompson & Morgan, compost company William Sinclair Horticulture Ltd and pot suppliers Stewarts have all contributed to the provision of the other materials for the seed planting workshops.”

The Twyford workshops will take place from 10.30am until 11.30am and again from 2.30pm until 3.30pm on Good Friday, April 10, Saturday, April 11 and Easter Bank Holiday Monday, April 13. The garden centre is closed on Easter Sunday.

Errol added: “Gardening and in particular growing your own vegetables and salads is a great hobby. It encourages physical activity and helps teach youngsters about where their food comes from.”

To find out more about the Children’s Gardening Weekend, please go along to Wyevale Hare Hatch Garden Centre, which is located on Floral Mile, Hare Hatch, Twyford, call 01189 403 933

Twyford Police are keen to trace the owner of a dog after an incident last Thursday (12/3) on the public footpath that runs parallel to Hurst Park Road, in Twyford.

At approximately 12.15pm, a dog that was not on a lead ran at a three-year-old boy and barked in his face. The boy was not injured, but police would like to talk to the owner of the dog, who did not stop to talk to the boy’s mother at the time of the incident.

The dog is described as a medium-sized black cross-breed.

PC Laura Corscadden of Reading police said: “I would like to speak to anyone who witnessed this incident, or who may know who owns this dog.

”If you are the owner of this dog, please contact me on the police enquiry centre number.”

PC Corscadden can be contacted via the police enquiry centre on 0845 8 505 505.

Thames Valley Police ~ Twyford

Twyford Police are appealing for witnesses to an incident at Waitrose in Twyford on Saturday (14/3).

Two men entered the Twyford store at 3.50pm and stole approximately 19 bottles of spirits. When they left the store, they were challenged by staff in the car park. The men threatened the members of staff with a knife, described as a meat cleaver.

They made off in a maroon Ford Escort, which had been stolen earlier from Twyford station. This was found shortly afterwards in Kings Gardens, Twyford. The offenders had got into a dark-coloured vehicle, described as a family car similar to Vauxhall Vectra.

The two men are described as white, and of slight build. The first is approximately 5ft 3ins to 5ft 6ins tall, clean shaven and thought to be in his late twenties to early thirties. He was wearing a black peaked ‘arctic’ style cap which covered his ears and neck, a black long-sleeved top, black trousers and white trainers.

The second man is thought to be in his late thirties to early forties, with no facial hair, and olive skin. He had unusual black markings on his left wrist, and one or two teeth missing. He wore a dark baseball-style cap, a black long-sleeved top with a hood, and a fluorescent vest over this. He wore dark blue jeans and beige work boots which had dust on them.

PC Michael Campbell-Montgomery, of Reading police, said: “I would like to talk to anyone who witnessed the theft in Waitrose or the incident in the car park.

“We don’t know if the second vehicle the offenders got into was stolen, and I would welcome any further information on that vehicle.

“The first man appeared to be dressed as a builder, so that might be a clue as to his identity.

Anyone with information is urged to contact PC Campbell-Montgomery, at Reading police via the 24-hour Police Enquiry Centre on 0845 8 505 505.

Alternatively, if you don’t wish to speak to police or leave your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

Thames Valley Police ~ Twyford

A new scheme aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour in licensed premises has been launched for the Twyford area.

It is hoped that Pub Watch – a partnership between police, Wokingham Borough Council and landlords – will help to make Twyford venues in the area safer and more enjoyable to visit.

Twyford Pub Watch meetings will be held once a month, and will be used to discuss ways to combat drunken, abusive or violent behaviour as well as other relevant topics.

Landlords, Thames Valley Police and Wokingham Borough Council will be working together on matters such as underage drinking, drugs use and ways to improve public safety. Members will also discuss individuals who persistently cause trouble. A ‘banned from one, banned from all’ principle will be applied.

The Twyford group will include pubs in Twyford, Hurst, Wargrave, Remenham, Ruscombe, Harehatch, Knowle Hill, Sonning and Charvil.

Claire King, Licensing Officer, for Thames Valley Police Wokingham Local Policing Area (LPA) said: “The aim is to enhance the safety, security, comfort and well being of customers and staff.

“Landlords will be working together to target those individuals who cause or threaten damage, disorder, violence and who use or deal in drugs in their premises.

Newly elected chairman of Pub Watch, Mark Gray, of the Golden Cross, Twyford said: “This new scheme will certainly benefit venues in the area by allowing licensees and authorities to work together and build safer communities.”

Neighbourhood Specialist Officer PC Terry Neblett said: “Whilst it is the licensees’ responsibility to run the scheme, a Police Officer and the Licensing Officer for TVP will always attend the meetings to offer support and advice and share information with the group.

“If a person is barred from one pub, then details of that person will be circulated to venues in the area and they will automatically be barred from all.

“We are so pleased to see such a positive response from the premises in the area and will provide as much guidance and support (along with our colleagues at Wokingham Borough Council), as we can.”

Karen Court, Licensing Officer for Wokingham Borough Council said: “We already have three excellent Pub Watchgroups running in Wokingham, so we're really pleased with the introduction of the Twyford group – this means thatevery pubwithin the borough has a local group they can join.

“As Wokingham Borough Council Licensing Service we are happy to attend meetings to support our licensees and we also do things like text message alerts if there's information we need to quickly get out to them.

“The Wokingham town centre Pub Watch group are very successfully using Pub Watch Online to communicate information and we hope eventually to extend this out to the other three groups.”

Pub Watch members currently include:

The Golden Cross, Twyford

The Wee Waif, Twyford

The Wagon and Horses, Twyford

Lands End, Twyford

Royal Oak, Ruscombe

Bird in Hand, Knowl Hill

Green Man, Hurst

Duke of Wellington, Twyford

Thames Valley Police ~ Twyford