Watford Observer
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:28:45 +0000'Avoid area' warning as police called to Hertfordshire motorway crash - live
Herts Police have warned motorists to "avoid" the A1(M) at Bignell's Corner after a crash.
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 08:10:00 +0000256-home plan which 'would bring urban sprawl towards Bushey' refused
Building a 256-home development has been blocked amid fears of urban “sprawl” towards Bushey from South Oxhey.
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:18:06 +0000Arrests after multiple reports of bank card thefts at car park
Two men have been arrested after reports of bank cards being stolen at The Rutts Car Park in Bushey Heath.
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000Hertfordshire left off Sunday Times' best places to live for first time in 5 years
Nowhere in Hertfordshire has been named among the UKs best places to live for the first time in five years, while Norwich came out on top.
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:29:00 +0000Newly built 3-bed home in Watford with sleek interior on sale for £1.1m
Three-bedroom detached house on Bucknalls Lane, Watford, featuring high-spec interior, three bathrooms, two receptions, and garden access.
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:05:00 +0000Life is sweet with this week’s You Garden’s offers
Cherry Tomato ‘Sungold SuperSweet’ – the sweetest tasting tomato ever – is the star of the show in this week’s offers from You Garden.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:06:00 +0000Appeal over 7-bedroom HMO plan for Watford house decided
Controversial plans to turn a Kingswood Estate, Watford, house into a seven-bedroom HMO have been shot down by the planning inspectorate.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:00:00 +0000A once common scene in a major Watford road
A look back to the once common sight of a hay cart pulled up outside a Hempstead Road pub at Cassio Hamlet in Watford.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:00:00 +0000Police respond to claim local officers being 'moved out of village'
Herts Police say officers are not being taken off the beat amid a petition to keep a community’s police team in Abbots Langley.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 14:25:00 +0000The 7 sites where government says 4,153 extra homes should be allowed
Six sites have been lined up for housebuilding as the government steps in to order 4,153 more homes built in Three Rivers.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:46:00 +0000Club members visit charity during preparations for major spring campaign
Watford Lions Club visited Hand on Heart Charitable Trust to support its 2026 spring campaign aiding homelessness across UK cities.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:05:00 +0000Sinkhole shuts key route for THIRD time in three months
A major West Watford road has been closed for repairs to a sinkhole for a third time this year.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:27:00 +0000'Delight' as plans unveiled for land beside former Mothercare headquarters
Watford Borough Council to create new allotments near Yeatman Court, boosting community gardening, sustainability, and wellbeing.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:28:46 +0000M1 traffic stopped after multi-car crash on edge of Hertfordshire - recap
M1 traffic has been halted by emergency services on the edge of Hertfordshire and London.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:50:00 +0000Rail worker dies during urgent works near Hertfordshire station
A rail worker died during urgent works near Radlett railway station and Elstree and Borehamwood station in Hertfordshire.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:05:00 +0000Person confirmed dead after 'casualty on tracks' between Watford Junction and Euston
A person died in an incident which shut lines between Watford Junction and London Euston for hours last night.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:30:00 +0000Two plans that could bring 500 homes to the area being decided TONIGHT
Two major planning applications that could bring more than 500 homes to the Watford area are set to be decided tonight (March 18).
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 05:30:00 +0000Latest on Watford-area pub openings and closings
The Watford Observer looks at the pub news that we have seen so far in 2026.
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 06:04:00 +0000Treat yourself and your home for less with TopCashback
From gut health to sleep and relaxation, women’s health and vitamins and supplements, the retailer is the go-to for all this and much more. And, right now, new members to TopCashback can get 100% cashback up to £15 at Holland and Barrett
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:30:00 +0000Popular walking route could soon reopen for first time in two years
There could be light at the end of the tunnel for Rickmansworth Aquadrome walking route which has been blocked off for two years.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:35:00 +000012-year-old 'repeatedly kicked in the head' during 'awful' attack near McDonald's
Police are investigating after a 12-year-old boy was reportedly attacked by a group of males in Watford High Street.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:13:00 +0000145-home plan on edge of village slammed by critics
Dozens of objections have poured in against plans for 145 homes on the edge of the village of Bovingdon.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:01:55 +0000Stuck lorry forces 'unsafe' car park to close for over two months
A car park in Hemel Hempstead is set to close for months for a replacement to be laid.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:00:00 +0000Look back at the landmark furniture store now home to a fast food restaurant
A look back at Fishpools furniture store at junction of Exchange Road and Market Street, in Watford, now occupied by Cheatmeals.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:54:03 +0000Early morning and late evening bus journeys through Watford axed
Early morning and late evening journeys for two Watford bus routes, 322 and 20, are being axed in new route changes.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:19:00 +0000New children's playground nearly complete as opening nears
A new children's play area is set to open within weeks, having been greenlit in a bid to address a deficit in available facilities.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 13:30:00 +0000Saleswoman admits perverting course of justice when suing former bosses
A saleswoman is facing jail after she faked a doctor’s note about cancer treatment and lied about evidence of sexual assaults in two failed employment tribunals at Watford Employment Tribunal.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:25:00 +0000Two Watford carpenters fined over £63k and £47k in unpaid tax
The government has named two Watford-based carpenters in its 'name and shame' list of deliberate tax defaulters.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:08:00 +0000Enforcement complaint after trees damaged 'to bring 10 caravans onto field'
Tearing down trees to allegedly allow for caravans to be moved onto fields in Loudwater has sparked a planning enforcement complaint.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000Video emerges of restaurant fight after Watford FC game in Stoke
A video has emerged showing a fight between Watford and Stoke following the Championship game between the two clubs on Saturday (March 14).
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 09:47:37 +0000New Post Office service to open next week
Bushey is set to get a new Post Office Drop and Collect branch, planned to open next week.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000Police ram car driven off going wrong way at M25 service area
Two people were arrested after BCU Road Policing officers rammed an allegedly stolen car which had driven off from police against the flow of traffic.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 08:32:36 +0000Appeal over 600-home plan by ancient woodland goes live
An appeal has gone live over 600-home plans at the edge of Whippendell Wood, in Croxley Green.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:45:00 +0000Road to shut as film crews descend on residential street over three days
Motorists may be barred from using a route while a film is made in their Croxley Green road.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:32:00 +0000Classic steam train to pick up passengers from Watford on four dates
The Cumbrian Mountain Express steam train will pick up passengers from Watford Junction on four days this year.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:30:00 +0000Private schools near Watford included on new best in England list
Schools near Watford and across Hertfordshire have been included in a new list of the top 200 private schools in England.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 07:03:00 +0000Save up to 60% on home and garden essentials from High Street TV
There’s still up to 60 per cent off High Street TV products in the £1 million stock clearance sale.
Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:13:51 +0000Blippi announces new Be Like Blippi UK tour as dates revealed
Audience members are encouraged to wear orange Blippi glasses and join in the fun as the cast invites everyone to "be like Blippi."
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:44:00 +0000Aldi to open new Watford store 'this summer'
Aldi is set to open its new Watford store this summer, the Watford Observer understands.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 17:41:00 +0000Final two criminals sentenced over Watford A41 shooting
The final two criminals involved in the Watford A41 shooting have been sentenced, bringing to an end the extensive legal process.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:55:47 +0000'Man threatened with screwdriver' outside Herts synagogue in 'antisemitic incident'
A man was threatened with a screwdriver in an alleged antisemitic incident outside a synagogue in Hertfordshire.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 15:03:37 +0000Two men jailed over kidnapping and beatings in Watford
Two men have been jailed after kidnapping and beating a man in Watford, as well as stunning another man with a taser several times.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:45:00 +0000Nostalgic look back at Lower High Street shops in 1980s
A look back at Rumbelows, Brentford, William Hill and other shops trading in Lower High Street, Watford, in 1981.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:15:00 +0000'Superb' secondary school named among top 10 per cent in England
Rickmansworth School ranks in the top 10% of UK secondary schools for KS4 attainment, earning an SSAT Educational Outcomes Award for 2025 exam results.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:28:00 +0000'Resilient' teen battling rare cancer eyes 'hope trip' as £7,000 raised
A Bushey teenager battling a rare form of cancer has said the fight will make him stronger, describing it as a "David and Goliath moment".
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:28:11 +0000Watford-based firm Wickes to create over 2,000 jobs as profits soar
Watford-based firm Wickes has announced it will create more than 2,000 new jobs as its profits surge.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:10:00 +0000Multi-faith community iftar held at mosque in Watford
North Watford Mosque hosted a community Iftar, uniting Watford and Hertfordshire faiths for Ramadan. Civic leaders and residents gathered to promote unity.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:51:27 +0000Harlequin signage FINALLY returns after rebrand
New signage has gone up at the Harlequin in Watford following its return to the former name.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:47:00 +0000Hertfordshire car parks at risk as major operator enters administration
Hertfordshire car parks and jobs are at risk after major operator NCP collapsed into administration.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:20:00 +0000'Big fight' after Watford FC game leaves man hospitalised with leg injury
Staffordshire Police are investigating reports of a fight at a restaurant in Stoke-on-Trent following the Stoke City v Watford FC game in the Championship on Saturday (March 14).