Watford Observer
Thu, 29 Jan 2026 08:24:21 +0000Three lanes closed amid Herts M25 crash - recap
Three lanes were reportedly closed on the M25 in Hertfordshire after a crash this morning (January 29
Thu, 29 Jan 2026 07:46:57 +0000Work begins on huge industrial development near M25
Work has begun on Trade City Maple Cross, an 88,000 sq ft industrial and warehousing hub near the M25.
Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000Look inside popular restaurant near Watford 30 years ago
A look back at how the popular Long Island Exchange, in Rickmansworth, looked inside in 1993.
Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000Notorious width restriction going nowhere despite ANPR success
Hertfordshire County Council has no plans to remove the Woodmere Avenue width restriction, despite ANPR initially proposed as a replacement being introduced.
Thu, 29 Jan 2026 07:54:00 +0000Beautiful Begonias on offer from You Garden
Begonias are renowned for the vibrant colours and foliage and they’re taking the spotlight in this week’s offers from You Garden.
Thu, 29 Jan 2026 05:00:00 +0000MP pays tribute to 'unsung heroes' Citizens Advice during Westminster visit
Watford MP Matt Turmaine hosted Citizens Advice Watford staff at Parliament and presented departing chief officer Emma Burgham with a bottle of wine signed by the Prime Minister.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 18:30:00 +0000Police rammed 'drug driver fleeing chase on wrong side of motorway'
Herts Police had to ram an alleged drug driver who fled a chase the wrong way up the M25.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:50:00 +0000Watford 'brothel' attack: no new arrests as probe continues
Police have confirmed that no new arrests have been made after a knife attack at a suspected brothel in Watford.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:23:00 +0000Family business launched to replace long-running restaurant
Family business Olive Hill has been launched to replace a Derwish restaurant in St Albans Road, which operated for more than eight years.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:09:00 +0000MP visits exhibition honouring victims of Holocaust
Watford MP Matt Turmaine attended Parliament’s “In Their Footsteps” Holocaust Memorial Day exhibition, honouring victims of the Nazi genocide.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 14:51:32 +0000Former Watford company boss sentenced over £50k fraud
The boss of a former Watford-based firm has been sentenced over £50,000 fraud using Covid Bounce Back Loans.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:52:00 +0000Police eyeing prosecutions over 'dangerous' school run parking yesterday
Parents whose parking at St Paul’s Church of England Primary School “created significant danger” appear set for prosecution.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000Pub giant with Watford sites puts 22 boozers up for sale
Stonegate Group has put 22 of its pubs up for sale.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:48:12 +0000'Reopen West Watford' petition backed but 'trackless trams' could be more likely
Watford councillors have backed calls to reopen the disused West Watford rail route – but ‘trackless trams’ could be more likely than trains.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:20:00 +0000'A shameful episode' - Royal Marine recalls Britain's 'forgotten war'
Royal Marine veteran Captain Stephen Weall shares memories of the Aden Emergency, as Legasee Trust launches UK project to preserve forgotten conflict stories.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:20:14 +0000Wreaths laid at foot of Anne Frank tree as Watford marks Holocaust Memorial Day
Wreaths were laid at the foot of Anne Frank's tree in Watford as part of Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:05:00 +0000BBC star bringing new tour to Watford Colosseum
The Watford Colosseum will be welcoming Jools Holland to the venue later this year as part of his new tour.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:48:00 +0000Mosque plan for church REFUSED over risk to listed building
Watford Borough Council has refused a plan to turn a Leavesden Road church into a mosque.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 10:30:00 +0000Tiny babies get help with heart conditions at hospital thanks to charity
A new heart ultrasound scanner at Watford General Hospital offers rapid, life-saving cardiac diagnosis for tiny babies, thanks to West Herts Hospitals Charity.
Sat, 24 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000Watford to freeze council tax in 'balanced and ambitious' budget
Watford Borough Council plans to freeze its 2026/27 council tax share at £308.51 for Band D, protecting services amid cost-of-living and funding pressures.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:52:00 +0000Premier League footballers 'involved in Hertfordshire M25 crash'
Two Premier League footballers, Wilson Odobert and Randal Kolo-Muani, are believed to have been involved in a crash on a Hertfordshire motorway.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:29:56 +0000Road closed after 'car overturned in crash' as black ice reported - recap
Herts Police have closed a lane between two villages this morning, amid reports of "black ice" in the area.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 08:13:50 +0000Premier League footballers 'fine' after Herts M25 car accident
Tottenham Hotspur footballers Randal Kolo Muani and Wilson Odobert are "fine" after being involved in an accident on the M25 in Hertfordshire last night.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 07:44:11 +0000Watford weather warning in place as Storm Chandra hits UK
A yellow weather warning for ice is in place in Watford and Hertfordshire as Storm Chandra hits the UK.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:32:00 +0000Home 'left in darkness' after house built 'inches' from living room window
Building a house “inches” from her living room window has plunged a Watford homeowner into darkness.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000Look inside much-loved Watford pub 30 years ago
A look back at how the much-loved The Horns pub, in Hempstead Road, Watford, looked inside in 1993.
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 06:50:00 +0000Last chance to save 50% off at Musto
While the Musto sale may be coming to an end, there’s plenty of bargains to be had and with the cold and wet days of winter very much still upon us, you’ll still get some use from them.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 18:32:00 +0000Village 15 minutes from Watford in running for 'UK town of culture' award
The village of Letchmore Heath in Hertfordshire has been put forward by The Guardian as a contender for the title of the UK's first town of culture.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 16:22:00 +0000'Car theft' arrest after police vehicle, minibus and car crash on M25
Officers arrested a man over vehicle theft after a police car and two other vehicles crashed on the M25 in Hertfordshire.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:40:00 +0000Turner artwork could win Hertfordshire's Museum Object of the Year
J.M.W. Turner’s Cassiobury House watercolour, held by the Museum of Watford, is shortlisted for Hertfordshire Museum Object of the Year.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:55:00 +0000New plan to demolish former bank and build 24 flats
Plans for 24 new flats near Watford Junction station at the former NatWest bank site have been submitted to the borough council.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:57:08 +0000Minibus and police car in motorway smash which halted traffic
A minibus and police car have been involved in an M25 crash which has caused hour-long delays in Hertfordshire.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 14:28:10 +0000SME businesses in Three Rivers can bid for solar panel grants
Small and medium-sized businesses in Three Rivers will soon be able to apply for funding to install solar panels and batteries.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:54:13 +0000Motorway traffic stopped as queues build amid 'police incident' - recap
All lanes of the M25 between junctions 23 and 24 clockwise, in Hertfordshire, have been stopped as emergency services respond to reports of a crash.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:33:05 +0000Chris Stark finally gifts Watford shirt to Mila Kunis after viral interview
Chris Stark has finally gifted Mila Kunis a Watford FC shirt, via Ashton Kutcher, 13 years after their viral interview.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:00:00 +0000'Significant majority' oppose school closure as decision looms
A consultation has found that a "significant majority" oppose plans to close St Nicholas School in Elstree.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:30:00 +0000New 'best sporting schools' list includes two from Watford
Two Watford schools have been included in School Sport Magazine's new list of the top 200 sporting schools.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 11:32:00 +0000Two seriously injured in M1 crash after van 'driven on wrong side of road'
Hertfordshire Police have launched an appeal for witnesses and information after two people were left with serious injuries following a crash on the M1 in Watford.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:50:52 +0000'We are heartbroken' - Traitors winner Rachel Duffy reveals her mum has died
Traitors winner Rachel Duffy has revealed her mum has died just days after the final of the BBC series aired on TV.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:40:00 +0000Prospect of 93-home road on edge of village sparks 'unrestricted sprawl' fears
The prospect of 93 homes being built on the edge of Abbots Langley has sparked fears of “unrestricted sprawl”.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 10:30:00 +0000Watford church to mosque plan has decision date confirmed
Watford Borough Council's development management committee is set to meet next week to decide if a former church can become a mosque.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:51:11 +0000Renewed appeal to find man wanted over assault
Hertfordshire Police have renewed their appeal to find a wanted man with links to Hemel Hempstead.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 08:19:25 +0000Watford Junction trains cancelled after tree blocks line
A tree blocking the line has led to the cancellation of Abbey Line services between Watford Junction and St Albans Abbey this morning (January 27).
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 07:36:01 +0000Jobs at risk as high street chain with Harlequin branch enters administration
The remaining Watford branch of Claire's is at risk of closure after the high street chain collapsed back into administration.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000Harlequin 'aware' of mouse sighting reports at kids' play venue
Harlequin Watford has confirmed it is “aware” of reported mouse sightings inside Rock Up Watford.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000Village resident enjoys 'amazing' appearance performing on hit BBC show
A Kings Langley resident enjoyed five minutes of fame by performing a ventriloquism act on Michael McIntyre's Big Show on BBC One.
Tue, 27 Jan 2026 07:49:00 +0000Brewers Decorator Centres’ tips on decorating the fifth wall in your home
When it comes to painting, the use of colour is used most commonly on walls, but what about ceilings?
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:35:00 +0000Family 'lost everything' as fire destroyed Herts home and killed cat
A family from Borehamwood “escaped with their lives but nothing else” after a fire destroyed their home and killed their cat.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 17:09:00 +0000New 5K parkrun launches as hundreds enjoy opening event
Hundreds of people took part in the first Holywell parkrun 5K at King George V Playing Fields in Watford on Saturday.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000Soul Survivor 'rewarded' with new role despite scandal
Soul Survivor Watford has reportedly been given a key role in overseeing the spending of a multi-million pound budget.