Read More Link

I am using the current code to call date, title, image and some description of a post: I am trying to figure out how to add a Read More link to the limit description that I’m calling in function, any help would be appreciated.

<?php
$posts = get_posts(‘numberposts=3&order=DESC&orderby=post_title&category_name=news’ );
foreach ( $posts as $post ) : start_wp();

echo “<div class=’news_item’>”;

toolbox_posted_on();

if ( has_post_thumbnail() ) {
the_post_thumbnail();
}
?>
<h4>
” title=”<?php the_title(); ?>”>
<?php the_title() ; ?>

</h4>
<?php the_excerpt() ;?>

<?php
echo “</div>”;
endforeach;
?>