Watford Observer
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 09:45:15 +0100Hertfordshire M25 delays building as one lane blocked - live updates
There are delays on the M25 in both directions this morning between Potters Bar and Waltham Cross. One lane is blocked in the clockwise direction due to a broken-down vehicle.
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0100Game-changing Lilac on offer this week at lowest price ever
This week, You Garden is showcasing Lilac ‘Palibin’ Standard at its lowest ever price!
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:30:00 +0100ANOTHER Harlequin store closure confirmed
A second Harlequin Watford closure of the week has been confirmed, with shutters up at MAC Cosmetics.
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 05:29:00 +0100Incredible five-bed home with stunning garden views put on sale for £2.2 million
A renovated five-bedroom home on Stag Lane in Chorleywood has come to market at £2,195,000.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:21:51 +0100Buying tyres in the UK? Read this before you order
If you need new rubber fast, Tyres.co.uk is the top place to buy tyres online and book local fitting across the UK, offering a wide range of tyres, transparent tyre prices and thousands of partner fitters within easy reach of your postcode
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:20:00 +0100Duo jailed over £600k car theft spree in Hertfordshire and nearby
Aurimas Sarkis, 29, and Ignas Kisskiss, 37, mostly targeted BMWs and Mercedes using a loophole allowing them access to cars without needing the physical key.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:59:00 +0100'Fabulous' Harry Potter experience returning with tickets on sale next week
Tickets are on sale next week for the Harry Potter Dinner in the Great Hall experience at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:29:00 +0100Council may sell £565k building to charity for £200k to boost services
The authority is considering the sale of 122 Exchange Road to homelessness charity New Hope for £200,000 to support its plans to develop a modern support centre.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:35:00 +0100Dog show at popular Hertfordshire village carnival cancelled
The segment runs as part of Kings Langley Carnival, which is happening this Saturday (June 27) on Kings Langley Common from 12pm to 5pm.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:28:58 +0100Man with Watford and Hemel links wanted on recall to prison
Police have appealed for the public's help to find a wanted man with Watford links.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:26:59 +0100Business 'honoured' to be among winners of prestigious Muddy Stilettos awards
Watford business YogaNastics has been named as the best yoga/Pilates studio in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:56:06 +0100New business opens inside Watford Morrisons store
Eurochange has opened a new branch inside Watford's Morrison's store.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:26:00 +0100Primary school quashes closure rumours and confirms move to 'small school' status
Woodhall School in South Oxhey has provided an update on its future, debunking claims that it will close.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:36:55 +0100Watford pub 'thrilled' after scooping pair of awards
Watford Two Trees Micro is celebrating after being named CAMRA's Watford and District Pub of the Year and Cider Pub of the Year.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:41:09 +0100Live traffic recap after 'significant defect' causes Hertfordshire M25 delays
Delays have been reported on the M25 in Hertfordshire due to a "significant" concrete barrier defect
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:16:19 +0100Watford Aldi unveiled by Olympian as 'massive' store hailed by customers
Dozens of customers queued from early morning for the opening of Watford's new Aldi store.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:55:00 +0100Big-name Harlequin store closes after more than a decade
The Harlequin shopping centre in Watford has lost another business with the closure this week of Kurt Geiger store.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0100Save £500pp on a 5-star Japan holiday with flights and transfers included
Riviera Travel’s Deal of the Week: Japan is a cultural paradox – known for its long, rich history of emperors, samurais and martial arts, it's also a place of tranquillity, elegant geishas, colourful kimonos, exquisite garden design and Zen Buddh...
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 05:30:00 +0100Skaters hop fences for event to 'save' closed skatepark eyed for redevelopment
Skaters hopped the fences into the closed Watford Skatepark to demonstrate support for their “valuable community asset”.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:22:41 +0100New 14 storey landmark planned for Wembley Park Drive
Here are the latest planning applications submitted to Brent Council this week.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:10:00 +0100Village's Morrisons named among Hertfordshire branches at risk of closure
The threatened closures follow a performance review of stores acquired through its 2022 McColl's takeover, which were rebranded as Morrisons Daily.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 14:50:00 +0100Scorching heat causing disruption to schools, business and travel in Hertfordshire
Watford has baked in the heat this week, as schools and businesses are shutting early and Watford Junction journeys are disrupted.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 13:10:00 +0100Police 'increasingly concerned' for missing girl, 16, last seen over a week ago
Maya, 16, was last seen wearing a school uniform on Monday, June 15, but officers believe it is likely she has since changed her clothing.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 12:15:00 +0100Nursery chain with Watford location served safeguarding notice
Ofsted has served the Bright Horizons nursery chain running a Watford location with an improvement notice.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 11:46:00 +0100Another Watford school announces early closure due to extreme heat
Westfield Academy will be closing early at 1.20pm for all students today (June 24) and tomorrow, according to a sign on its website.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:30:54 +010013-warehouse project worth £120m unveiled for land by Hertfordshire A41
Plans for 13 warehouses worth around £120 million have been unveiled to “satisfy the latent demand” for logistics space by the A41 in Elstree.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:15:00 +0100Man in 60s hospitalised in crash which caused Hemel traffic chaos
A man in his 60s was hospitalised in a St Albans Road crash which blocked multiple Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, roads.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:00:00 +0100Days of M1 closures for Hertfordshire, Beds and Bucks start tonight
A round of planned maintenance closures for the M1 motorway in Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Bedfordshire starts tonight.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 08:00:42 +0100Business signs on to open inside Harlequin Watford unit the same size as TK Maxx
JD Gyms has signed for a 30,000-square-foot Harlequin location - the same size as TK Maxx's.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 07:16:41 +0100RED weather warning for Hertfordshire - recap
The Met Office has put a red 'extreme heat' warning in place for Hertfordshire, including Watford, as disruption is expected.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 06:00:00 +0100Stock up for summer (and Christmas!) with Wentworth Puzzles sale
The Wentworth Puzzles summer sale is now on!
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:32:00 +0100New fish and chip shop promises 'top quality' food ahead of weekend opening
Chris Furnell, head chef at Mother Hubbard’s, which is opening this Saturday, said he wanted customers to taste for themselves the food which has made the brand successful.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 05:29:00 +0100Grocery store hit with new 1/5 food hygiene rating
Valea Prahove, on Vicarage Road, was inspected by a food safety officer on May 18, 2026.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 16:11:19 +0100Sheepcot Lane house seeks official 6 person HMO status
Here are the latest planning applications submitted to Watford Borough Council this week.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:23:48 +0100Primary school children take over huge railway station
Pupils from Cherry Tree Primary School voice rail safety announcements at Watford Junction, part of a collaboration between LNR and the school.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 14:17:55 +0100Meet the bird of prey keeping hospital grounds safe and clean
Tex, a one-year-old Harris hawk, is part of the estates and facilities team at Watford General Hospital, where he helps deter pigeons to keep the grounds clean.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 13:33:21 +0100Tesco colleagues to take part in 13-mile cancer fundraiser to raise £300,000
Tesco colleagues in Watford will take part in a 13-mile fundraiser on July 1 as part of a wider company initiative in support of Cancer Research UK.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:39:51 +01003 bedroom house in town set to become children's home
Here are the latest planning applications submitted to Hertsmere Borough Council this week.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:39:56 +0100Citizens Advice appoints new chief officer to lead a vital advice service
Citizens Advice Watford has named Kalpna Budhdeo as its new chief officer to lead a vital advice service in the community.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:29:11 +0100Forced to stop work by injury? Here’s what support you could claim
Struggling after a back injury forced you out of work? A guide to benefits including Universal Credit, ESA and PIP, plus where to get help in Watford.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 09:23:23 +0100'Future neighbourhood' site advances to next stage of planning process
Here are the latest planning applications validated by Dacorum Borough Council in the last week.
Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:34:30 +0100All Hertfordshire recycling centres to shut during the day due to extreme heat
All of Hertfordshire’s recycling centres will be closed between 1pm and 3pm until Friday, as the county faces extreme hot weather.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 20:33:00 +0100Police close road following Hemel crash amid reports of 'air ambulance'
Herts Police said they were responding to a crash on St Albans Road around 6.15pm, telling drivers to avoid the area.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:49:09 +0100Crash closes multiple roads with police on scene - recap
Police are at the scene of a crash on St Albans Road in Hemel Hempstead this evening. Multiple roads have been closed.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:30:00 +0100Artist banned from own exhibition over gender views settles with Watford Council
A Croxley Green-based artist “cancelled” and barred from her own exhibition over views on children gender transitioning has settled with Watford Borough Council.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:59:00 +0100Popular Hertfordshire village carnival with music and circus tent this weekend
Kings Langley Carnival will take place this Saturday (June 27) on Kings Langley Common from 12pm to 5pm.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:00:00 +0100Herts cop who said he would have 'vicious sex' with colleague keeps job
A police officer has been given a final written warning after making inappropriate comments to a colleague and telling another that he would have "vicious sex" with her.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 12:30:00 +0100Hertfordshire Council statement on school closures as 'small number' confirmed
Hertfordshire County Council has shared a statement on school closures as a “small number” in the county have shut completely due to extreme heat.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:40:00 +0100XL bully to be destroyed if Watford owner doesn't get exemption within two months
A Watford dog owner has just two months to obtain an exemption, or his “companion” must be destroyed under an order from St Albans Magistrates' Court.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 10:40:00 +0100Major scheme for new six-storey building with flats recommended for approval
Knocking down a former Watford bank for a six-storey 24-flat building opposite Watford Junction has been recommended for approval.