NWN-18062020

Thursday, June 18, 2020 7

NEWBURY NEWS

Newbury Weekly News

Above, the rabbit and ducklings being hand-reared before being returned to thewild Pictures: FalklandetVs

The injured calf the walkers discovered near the Nature Discover y Centre Picture: Aimee Donaldson

Injured deer calf saved by walkers FalklandeVts nursing week-old muntjac back to health

The young deer is feeding off lamb’s milk and when she is ready she will go to a wildlife reserve until she can be returned to her natural habitat. Just to add to the baby fun last night, the vets are also hand-rear- ing and weaning a baby wild rabbit that was found abandoned at the bottom of someone’s garden and some ducklings that were found by the canal after their mother was frightened off by a dog. Mrs Snelling said: “Again some- one will look after the rabbit until they feel it is ready to go back to its natural habitat – although if it becomes domesticated, it may stay as a family pet.” n Guidance from the British Deer Society is if you find a fawn, kid or calf – that is not obviously injured as this one was – move away immediately. Don’t be tempted to touch the deer or pick it up – your scent may stop the mother returning to feed her baby. Weekend damage at flood works site POLICE are appealing for witnesses to criminal damage and an attempted theft in Thatcham. Machinery at the flood alleviation site at Dunston Park was damaged during the incident, but the items have not been reported stolen. The damage occurred sometime between 3pm on Saturday and 7am on Monday. Anyone with information should contact the Police Enquiry Centre on 101 with crime reference number 43200177936.

THE kindness of strangers saved a one-week-old baby muntjac’s life when she was found injured on a footpath off Lower Way, Thatcham, near the Nature Discovery Centre. Andy Donaldson and his wife Aimee were taking a stroll with their dog at about 7pm on Monday when they spotted the injured animal. Mr Donaldson said: “We could see that it had a head injury and it just lay there, not responding to anything. “We had a dog bowl with us, so we put some water in that, but it didn’t move. “My wife took our dog home – as it was getting a bit over- excited – and phoned the RSPCA, but they were unable to help.” Mr Donaldson stayed with the deer for about an hour, when another passer-by suggested they get the injured calf to Falk-

land Vets, which was still open and happy to take her in. “On the way to the vets, the muntjac took a sip of water from the bowl and was bit more responsive,” said Mr Donaldson. “But I was very grateful that lady came along and helped. “I wouldn’t have known what to do otherwise.” Falkland Vets practice manager Nicola Snelling said: “We occasionally get deer brought into us, but this is possi- bly the youngest at only a week old. “She is doing OK, but has a head injury inflicted by another animal, so not surprisingly she is a little traumatised by her ordeal.” The practice will keep the muntjac safe until they are satis- fied that the injury is healing. Report by GERALDINE GARDNER email geraldine.gardner@newburynews.co.uk twitter @geraldineg_nwn

SELF-ISOLATE WHEN ALERTED If you’re told you have been exposed to an infected person you must self-isolate for 14 days to protect your friends and family. NHS TEST & TRACE

40-year-old Ramsbury man charged with raping child

charged with false imprison- ment, three counts of rape of a girl under 13, assault by pene- tration of a girl under 13, making threats to kill and two counts of assaulting an emer- gency worker. “He was arrested following an incident in Ramsbury on Satur- day morning. “No pleas were entered during today’s appearance and Watts has been remanded in custody to next appear at Bristol Crown Court on July 13.”

A MAN has been charged with three counts of raping a child and numerous other serious offences following an incident in Ramsbury on Saturday. Police were called to a distur- bance on Saturday morning, where 40-year-old David Watts was arrested. A Wiltshire Police spokesper- son said: “David Alan Watts, 40, of Ramsbury, appeared at Bristol Magistrates Court on Monday

Week of daytime road closures affecting A4 ANOTHER week of daytime closures will affect the A4 next week. but not for eastbound traffic and access to the community hospital will be maintained for emer- gency vehicles.

Lower Way will be open. Access to Southdown Road, Newbury Manor Hotel and the road leading to Ham Mill will be open for westbound traffic. Access to Dorneywood Way will be via Gaywood Drive. Night closures from 7pm to 5am will come in from June 25.

The road closure eastbound between the B&Q roundabout and Tull Way roundabout contin- ues between 9.30am and 11.30pm, excluding the weekend. Hambridge Road will be open,

Lower Way will be closed from the A4 hospital side, with access via Pound Lane or from the A4 westbound. Exiting on to the A4 from