Crimefighters, emergency services and community groups will be on hand in the Kennet Centre next month to help Newbury people learn more about crime prevention.

Neighbourhood Watch, police, fire, ambulance, trading standards officers and community wardens are among the many agencies offering expertise all day on June 16.

Angela Money, of Newbury Neighbourhood Watch, said: “We want people to stop by and get everything they need for crime prevention and hopefully have a crime free summer. We are very lucky to have so many people on board and this shows we are putting on a united front in tackling crime in West Berkshire.”

Best bobby in town?

The hunt is on for the best community police officer in Thames Valley, with residents, community groups and businesses all expected to put in nominations.

Only one beat officer will go through from the West Berkshire, Reading and Wokingham areas, but if successful will scoop a £3,000 bursary to learn about local policing abroad.

Nomination forms are available from police stations and libraries, or via the police website.

West Berks churches get onceover

Local historian David Peacock is giving a talk next week on local church architecture in and around Newbury. As West Berkshire is most noted for its Norman church designs, Dr Peacock will focus on that period, also covering Saxon churches (Frilsham) down to Victorian styles (Methodist).

The lecture starts at 7pm at the town hall, with tickets costing £5 from the museum (01635 30511).

Tourist info open

Newbury’s new tourist information centre opened on Monday promising bigger and better service to boost visitor numbers in the town. New computers have been installed to allow customers to book accommodation across the country, and to allow local businesses to book overnight stays for visitors. The office moved from one end of the Granary to the other, after West Berkhshire Council refused to renew the lease of the Granary Tea Rooms.

Bayer takes on staff

Life at the Newbury HQ of drugs giant Bayer seems to be improving. Extra staff have been taken on to help the Strawberry Hill team promote Rennie, Proplus, and Sanatogen, which it acquired when Bayer bought the consumer health portfolio of European rival Roche.