Stories of the week: March 12-18

The Advertiser and Express websites bring you a round-up of the week's top stories from across east Berkshire each weekend.

Visit our websites every Saturday for the main news stories over the last seven days in Maidenhead, Slough, Windsor, Twyford and Burnham. Click on the links to read the full story.

Teaching assistant who sent boy picture of sex toy 'enjoyed the attention'

A teaching assistant who offered to perform a sex act on a teenager and sent him a picture of a sex toy has appeared in court.

Donna Brant, 37, of Kentons Lane, Windsor, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a male aged 13-17, for explicit texts she exchanged with a boy in 2015.

Phoenix Gym granted planning permission to move to new site in Fifield

There were cheers of relief and tears of happiness as Phoenix Gym was granted planning permission at Maidenhead Development Control Panel on Wednesday.

The controversial application for a new purpose-built gym in greenbelt land north of Longlea Nursing home in Fifield had been recommended for refusal.

Magician and Wargrave resident Paul Daniels dies

World-renowned magician and Wargrave resident Paul Daniels died aged 77 on Thursday.

The entertainer was diagnosed with an ‘inoperable brain tumour’ in February and spent his final days with family at his home in Willow Lane.

Mum's battle with council over excluded autistic teen 'crippled with anxiety'

The mother of a severely autistic boy ‘crippled with anxiety’ after being excluded from a special needs school is furious at the Royal Borough’s lack of support.

Rachel Baxter, of Cannon Court Road, sought provision from the council’s children’s services after her son Eben, 17, was excluded from Manor Green School.

Former UKIP chairman for Slough charged with electoral fraud offences

A former UKIP chairman for Slough has been charged with electoral fraud offences in connection with last year’s local government elections.

Steven Gillingwater, 26, of Tennyson Way in Slough, was charged with two offences of causing or permitting a false statement to appear in a nomination paper.

Man punches 12-year-old boy in the face on busy Langley bus

Witnesses are being asked to come forward after a 12-year-old boy was punched in the face by a man on a bus in Langley.

Thames Valley Police said the boy was on his way home from school on the number 75 bus on Tuesday, March 8, between about 3.30pm and 4.10pm.

Nicholsons car park: All known issues with system 'now sorted'

Frustration with the new payment system at the Nicholsons car park last week saw the council cabinet member for transport brand it the equivalent of a Reliant Robin.

Cllr Colin Rayner (Con, Horton and Wraysbury) had refused to make any more payments to manufacturer Scheidt and Bachmann.

Zombies crash couple's wedding photos in the shadows of Windsor Castle

Anyone who’s walked down the aisle knows how many things there are for a bride to worry about on her wedding day.

But when Chelsea McGrory was posing for photos outside Windsor Castle, she probably thought she could finally breathe a sign of relief.

President Barack Obama to visit Windsor Castle for private lunch with the Queen

President Barack Obama is set to visit Windsor Castle for a private lunch with the Queen next month.

The White House has announced that following a trip to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on April 21, the President of the United States will travel to the UK.

Desborough Bowls Club granted permission for new building in Green Lane

An important club in Maidenhead was granted permission to build a new ‘state-of-the-art’ facility at a Maidenhead Development Control Panel meeting last night.

Desborough Bowling Club which has been on their current site in York Road for 109 years will now be moving to a new home in Green Lane.