Berkshire weekly round-up: 3 February - 9 February 2024

Aurora suffered a ruptured ligament and had to be put to sleep

The death of the police horse that led the Queen's state funeral procession was among our most read stories this week in Berkshire.

A variety of local issues were featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Berkshire and South Today.

We have picked five stories to keep you up to date.

Infected blood scandal victim told 'to be grateful'

Matt Lincoln said said he was "still coming to terms" with his experience

A man who contracted hepatis C from contaminated blood has said he is "still coming to terms" with his experience.

Matt Lincoln, from Shinfield, contracted the infection through a blood transfusion while being treated for leukaemia.

Having recently been cured of the virus, he has now started helping others who have been infected.

Pilot wins award for crown flight for Coronation

Ms Larhlid also won an award for her 2022 flight depicting the late Queen

A pilot who created a crown on a map using aircraft tracking software has won an award for her Royal tribute.

Amal Larhlid flew a PA-28 from White Waltham, Berkshire, on the weekend of the King's coronation in May to create the image, with Oxford at its centre.

Ms Larhlid was awarded the British Women Pilots' Association Chairwoman's Trophy which required entrants to follow the theme of "crowning glory".

'Dying town's' regeneration a step closer

Plans for the Nicholson Quarter include flats, offices, shops, and restaurants

A council is pressing ahead with the final stages of compulsory purchases of land as part of a town regeneration.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has issued a compulsory purchase order for the Nicholsons Shopping Centre in Maidenhead.

Plans involve knocking down the shopping centre for the new Nicholson Quarter, which will consist of flats, offices, shops, and restaurants.

Horse that led Queen's funeral procession dies

Aurora joined Thames Valley Police's Mounted Section in 2015

A retired police horse that led the Queen's state funeral procession to Windsor Castle in her last day of service has died aged 13.

Aurora led the funeral procession down the Long Walk on 19 September 2022.

Known by officers as "Doris", the grey shire horse joined Thames Valley Police's (TVP) mounted section in 2015.

Cost of delayed train fleet withheld by government

The new Arterio train fleet had been due to start running in 2019

The government has refused to reveal the cost to the taxpayer of the delayed introduction of a new fleet of trains.

The Class 701 Arterio trains should have entered service with South Western Railway (SWR) in 2019.

However, the first passenger service ran between London Waterloo and Windsor in January.

The Department for Transport said answering the BBC's Freedom of Information request could "prejudice commercial interests".