BRACKNELL market was given a ‘makeover’ in 1995 and visitors were given the chance to browse around its revamped stalls and canopies.

The new look market cost £250,000 to upgrade and traders were giving the whole thing a big thumbs up which they hope will guarantee more people will come and see what it has to offer.

Bracknell Borough environment officer, Steve Loudoun, told the News: “There has already been a positive reaction, and shoppers are beginning to use the area, which is underneath the 3M building, as a place to meet friends for coffee and a chat.”

Bracknell firefighters tackled a series of controlled demonstration fires to launch Fire Safety Week back in 1995, as part of a national initiative to educate the public about fires in the home.

Local fire crews gathered in Charles Square to show how to deal with chip pan fires and other domestic situations, with a question and answer session for residents afterwards.

David Harper, county fire and emergency planning officer told the News:” This week is a timely reminder of the role we all have to play in keeping our community safe.”

Town centre beat officer PC Dave McAllister revealed that since he had been using a mobile phone on duty, crime in the area had fallen dramatically.

PC McAllister, also, who had been beat officer for the last two years said that 60 per cent of his arrests had been a direct result of traders ringing his mobile phone.

Local shopkeepers had banded together to pay for this service and benefited from the prevention of countless theft attempts, shoplifting, robbery, criminal damage and burglary.

Pupils from Emmbrook School came up with a winning design for Wokingham town’s latest addition, a new sundial for Howard Palmer Park.

Officially opened by Mayor Ann Davis, the sundial was unveiled to commemorate 100 years of the local council, unusually (if the sun was out) the sundial relied on a person standing in the centre to cast a shadow, thereby telling the time.

South Ascot pre-school’s new building was officially opened by popular children’s television presenter, David Benson Phillips in 1995, and after cutting the ribbon he spent the rest of the day touring the centre.

Supervisor Stephanie Higgs told the News: “The children had a wonderful afternoon and I think that we all fell in love with him!”

A new scheme to help injured and sick parrots was launched in Great Hollands, Bracknell by local resident, Tracy Dudmish, dedicated to caring for mistreated and abused birds.

With the help of her latest recruit, “Chuckles”, Tracy told the News: “This is a voluntary scheme to help exotic birds whose owners are not sure how to look after them.”