Paint that the truth:

CHAINS KNITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE MOTHERS’ UNION REMEMBER VICTIMS OF MODERN DAY SLAVERY. PICTURE EMMA n For more information about the Mothers’ Union, visit: www.mothersunion.org

Crowthorne, Berkshire; Loddon Reach Benefice, Reading; St Nicholas, Earley, Reading; St Michael, Tilehurst; St Paul’s, Wokingham; Woodley, Berkshire; and members from around the diocese.

The display can be visited at St Paul’s Church, on Reading Road, Wokingham.

Help to heat: find out if your home

PEOPLE with chilly homes may be eligible to receive financial assistance to help make their properties warmer.

Wokingham Borough Council says that borough householders can benefit from funded cavity wall and/or loft insulation through the Energy Company Obligation Flex Scheme (ECO).

To qualify, residents must have a joint household income below £31,000 and must live in a privately owned property with an Energy Performance Certificate of D, E, F or G.

To begin an application, residents should call one of the two installers: Insta Group on: 0118 979 3056, or JJ Crump & Sons Ltd: 0800 567 7474. n For more information, people should email: matthew.johnston@wokingham.gov.uk or visit the WBC website, and search for energy saving and climate at: www.wokingham.gov.uk

Exclusive

By JI-MIN LEE jlee@rdg.today

THOUSANDS of Hindus in Berkshire came together at The Atrium Health Club in neighbouring Reading to celebrate one of the religion’s most important annual festivals.

Organised by the Reading Indian Community, Saturday’s Holi Milan proved to be a hit once again, with organisers successfully negotiating a last-minute venue change – it was originally to be held in Sonning.

The afternoon culminated in the traditional throwing of colours, a celebration of the beginning of spring and the spreading of love and happiness.

Volunteer Sanjay Singh said: “It was a wonderful, wonderful event. More than 2,000 people attended and it was good to see so many of the local and Indian community come together.

“The objective was to bring everyone together and expose people to the culture

– we were delighted to see so many secondary school students and teenagers.

“We had a last minute hiccup, and at one point in time we were thinking we might have to postpone it, but we were able to pull it off.”

Organisers were informed on Thursday that the original venue at Reading Cricket Club was out of action following inclement weather.

“Thankfully, they were able to find a new venue at short notice. Visitors enjoyed live cultural performances, such as live Bhangra dancing, Bollywood and Punjabi music and dhol drumming.

Among the attendees was the borough Mayor of Wokingham, Cllr Caroline Smith, who was on-hand to witness the festivities. She said she had a brilliant time.

M O T H E R ' S D A Y L U N C H