Berkshire weekly round-up: 20 April - 26 April 2024

Alfie was "gobsmacked" to receive a card from his auntie almost nine years late

A story about a birthday card being delivered almost nine years late 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.

Africa record run in jeopardy after kidnapping attempt

Keith Boyd has been running for 270 days

An attempt to beat the world record for the fastest person to run the length of Africa is in jeopardy - after safety issues halted the challenge.

Keith Boyd, from Wargrave, Berkshire, has been running from Cape Town, South Africa, to Cairo, Egypt, for 270 days.

Security issues in northern Ethiopia have stalled his progress - preventing him from passing through on three separate occasions.

He has been held at gunpoint and narrowly avoided being kidnapped.

Dads of rowing champions take on charity challenge

(Left to right) Nick Digby, Hugh Elwes, Rory Carnegie and Al Davidson have been inspired by their sons

Four fathers of rowing world champions are taking on a charity challenge along the River Thames.

Nick Digby, Rory Carnegie, both from Oxford, Hugh Elwes, from Hampshire, and Al Davidson, from London, aim to row more than 130 miles (209 km) through 40 locks.

The five-day challenge from 2-6 May goes from Gloucestershire to Putney and will raise money for the Royal Marsden cancer charity and Love Rowing, the British Rowing Charitable Foundation.

Birthday card delivered almost nine years late

(L-R) Richard and his son Alfie with the card sent for his first birthday

A father has said his 10-year-old son was "gobsmacked" to receive a birthday card almost nine years late.

Richard, from Reading, Berkshire, said he recognised his sister's handwriting on the envelope, but had to pay £2.50 as the stamp was no longer valid.

The letter was address to his son, Alfie, who the 57-year-old said was left with his "jaw wide open".

A spokesperson for Royal Mail said it has "rectified the situation".

Homes agreed for land made famous in Watership Down

Richard Adams' novel tells the story of a young rabbit who has a vision of his warren's destruction at Sandleford

A controversial plan to build 360 new homes on land made famous in children's book Watership Down has been approved.

West Berkshire councillors gave the project for Sandleford Park West the go-ahead at a meeting on Wednesday.

Development on the Newbury site, immortalised in Richard Adams' 1972 novel, is led by Donnington New Homes.

Sikh short movie Kaur to get Hollywood remake

Dr Shergill stars in the film alongside Goodness Gracious Me star Nina Wadia

A short film about a British Sikh girl who wears a turban against her father's wishes is set to be remade as a feature-length movie.

Actor Dr Parvinder Shergill, from Berkshire, said the new version of Kaur would be a "huge Hollywood feature".

Dr Shergill, who also works as a psychiatrist for the NHS, is writing it with Juggy Sohal, who wrote the original short film with her.

Kaur, first released in 2022, will be available on Netflix from 3 May.

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