A sharp rise of coronavirus cases in Hertfordshire in December saw the county placed in a new Tier 4.

Retired clinicians are being urged to return and help the NHS as it struggles to handle the mounting pressures of coronavirus amid surging cases across Hertfordshire and west Essex.

Frontline NHS staff at west Hertfordshire hospitals have been recommended to postpone their annual leave when possible, the Observer understands.

Hertfordshire along with the rest of England was placed into lockdown in November following a rise of coronavirus cases.

A look back at some of the most memorable bits of 2020.

Live traffic and travel updates this morning

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson is set to deliver a statement to the Commons about the return to schools.

There was some heavy rain at the start of October which caused flooding in lower High Street.

The Government recently announced a further extension to protect commercial property tenants until March 31, 2021.

A yellow weather warning has been issued with a chance of snow and ice from tomorrow morning.

The number of new coronavirus cases in south west Hertfordshire does not appear to be spiralling out of control – but data shows little sign of the virus tailing off either.

Live traffic and travel updates this morning

September was when a statue of Graham Taylor was boarded up ahead of Watford's clash with Luton at Vicarage Road.

Sarah's Law means that we are now able to check if any sex offenders live near us. Here's how:

Hertfordshire is on course for its biggest ever police force - but residents will have to stump up extra cash to pay for it.

August was when we found out that a new Next Beauty store would be coming to Watford in place of Debenhams.

Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has said the Government hopes the staggered reopening of schools in England will go ahead in January as planned.

Police in Hertfordshire recorded using Tasers on children on dozens of occasions last year, figures reveal.

July was when the John Lewis department store at intu Watford closed its doors for good.

A weather warning for snow and ice has been issued over the bank holiday.

Watford town centre suffered a major blow in June after Debenhams confirmed it was permanently closing its flagship store.

This was the heart-stopping scene as flames began engulfing back gardens and a house in North Watford in May.

Everything you need to know about when to take your Christmas tree and decorations down.

The Masonic Charitable Foundation has donated £8,465 to help Hertfordshire hospices during the pandemic

The new month began with a critical incident being declared at Watford General Hospital.

It is easy to bombard folk with figures from dubious, questionable sources that tell nothing of the story that lie beneath. When we address elements of society that are affected by Covid, Brexit, changing tastes and fashions, or even acts of god, we ...

Plans to create four new specialist centres for secondary school pupils with autism and social communication difficulties have been backed by councillors.

March was the month that the UK went into lockdown as the coronavirus crisis escalated.

Here are five of the best recipes for making the most of your Christmas leftovers.

Here's everything you need to know about why we celebrate boxing day.

One news story has sadly dwarfed all others in 2020 - and it looks set to continue to do so for at least several more months in 2021.

It was a case of new year but an all too familiar problem in January as roadworks caused chaos in Watford, leading to one set being swiftly removed.

While the song is a staple of merry Christmas do sing-alongs, the true meaning of the phrase is somewhat different.

The Queen made her first Christmas Day speech in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI.

Spending Christmas alone can be tough, but there are lots of ways you can still make it a special day.

Storm Bella is due to lash London, Hertfordshire and Essex on Boxing Day with strong winds.

A pub has been fined £1,000 for serving alcohol without a substantial meal.

A man has been charged in connection with two burglaries.

Here's everything you need to know about Christmas and New Year opening times at all the major supermarkets.

Boris Johnson announced London and the South East will move to Tier 4 tomorrow Sunday 20, just days after Matt Hancock announced the region was moving to Tier 3 along with other large areas of England.

The government has mistakenly sent out shielding emails to clinically extreme vulnerable people living in Herefordshire instead of Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire County Council is trialling the use of ‘bodycams’ for school crossing patrols.

A top public health official has said he is “hopeful” that coronavirus infection rates will start to reduce in the week after Christmas under Tier 4 measures.

Those under tier 4 restrictions are advised to stay at home unless they have a “reasonable excuse” to leave their home.

Two independent cinemas in west Hertfordshire will receive support from the Government's £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

A surge in cases suggests the new and more infectious strain of Covid is spreading fast across Hertfordshire.

The Met Office is warning of heavy rain in the run-up to Christmas.

More than 5,000 secondary school pupils were absent in Hertfordshire on just one day last week because of coronavirus, estimates suggest.

Everything you need to know about the new coronavirus variant from experts at The Conversation.

Watford General Hospital is under "severe pressure", a CCG has said, as Hertfordshire moves into Tier 4.