The local stretch of motorway was closed for almost three hours earlier today after a lorry load of gas cylinders caught fire.

No one was injured, after the army lorry set ablaze while traveling on the M4 towards London, and police closed the stretch between J13 and J14, creating gridlock in central Newbury.

The £16 million electronic sign system was used to divert the traffic.

Still more jobs than people

Newbury’s job market appears to be holding up, according to new figures out this week. The town has 52,000 workers, but 67,000 jobs. Although unemployment is steady at one per cent, 9,000 people of working age in the Newbury area don’t work. These are students, the ill, and benefit claimants.

More smoke signals

Newbury’s public sector officials have joined an alliance to ban smoking in public places in the town. West Berkshire Council and Newbury Primary Care Trust signed up to the Smoke-Free Berkshire Alliance last week, and officials will now be trying to persuade more pubs and restaurants to banish smokers.

New shop for Town Mills

Town planners have approved a scheme to demolish a period office next to Newbury’s St Nicolas church, and replace it with a new shop, and 13 modern flats.

Plans by Thomas & Co have been attacked by heritage watchdog the Newbury Society, the Kennet & Avon Trust, and Newbury Town Council. The Environment Agency has also warned of the four-storey block at Town Mills flooding.

But conservationists at West Berkshire Council said the loss is “not detrimental”, while planners have praised the design and the fact it is car-free.

Also, the developer is prepared to hand over £36,000 to the council in return for planning consent.