Watford Observer
Wed, 28 Jan 2026 09:29:56 +0000Road closed after 'car overturned in crash' as black ice reported - live
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 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.
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.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000Memories of three shopping parades in Watford area 30 years ago
A look back at three parades of shops in Croxley Green, South Oxhey and Mill End, Rickmansworth, in 1993.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:32:17 +0000Hemel teen charged with '£19,000 Boots thefts'
A Hemel Hempstead teen has been charged with stealing £19,000 worth of goods from Boots stores in Nottinghamshire.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 15:00:51 +0000'End in sight' amid 'traffic lights nightmare' at key junction
Traffic light "chaos" at a key Watford junction, of the A405 and St Albans Road, is almost at an end.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 14:30:00 +0000Hospital workers to run London Marathon after recovering from treatment
West Herts NHS staff to run 2026 TCS London Marathon, raising funds for West Herts Hospitals Charity's Caring for Generations appeal supporting local hospitals.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:50:00 +0000ANPR at infamous width restriction triggers 1,700 fines within months
ANPR at the infamous Woodmere Avenue width restriction’s bus gate in Watford has triggered 1,733 fines within months.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:49:00 +0000How Herts will be affected as Storm Chandra set to batter the UK
Storm Chandra is set to batter the UK in coming days with weather warnings in place - so how will Hertfordshire be affected?
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:15:00 +0000Family restaurant's former unit put on the market
The former Our Brother's restaurant unit in Market Street has been put on the market after its closure.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:36:00 +0000Rogue trader jailed after roof repair fraud targeting pensioners
A rogue trader has been jailed for nine years after committing roof repair fraud worth £140,000 in Hertfordshire and Nottinghamshire.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000Turkey teeth gone wrong? What UK patients should know
Stories about Turkey teeth gone wrong have attracted significant attention across the UK and have contributed to a largely negative perception of having dental treatment abroad. These stories often highlight difficult experiences or unsatisfactory ou...
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:30:00 +0000Cause of 'very, very bad' fire above Watford shop revealed
Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that a blaze above a shop in St Albans Road, Watford, was started accidentally.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:18:06 +0000Watford named 'second best place to live in the UK outside London'
Watford has been named as the second best place to live and work outside of London in the 2026 UK Vitality Index.
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.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:49:59 +0000Disruptive roadworks extended and now set to continue this week
Motorists have been warned to expect fresh traffic delays this week as roadworks in Watford Road, Croxley Green, have been extended until January 29.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 07:42:33 +0000Person de-arrested after multi-vehicle M1 crash
A person has been arrested and subsequently de-arrested following a three-vehicle crash on the M1 near Watford that has put three people in hospital.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:30:00 +0000M25 and M1 closures among upcoming Herts roadworks
Upcoming M1, M25, and A1M roadworks are set to cause closures in Hertfordshire, which could create long delays to journeys.
Mon, 26 Jan 2026 11:48:39 +0000Adjustamatic proves savings can be had without risk
Scams have increasingly been the talking point in recent years with us all needing to be vigilant.
Sun, 25 Jan 2026 18:04:00 +0000Gifts left in Harlequin bring 'brightness and joy' to Blue Monday
Gifts from Guideposts Trust were hidden at Watford’s Harlequin shopping centre on Blue Monday to boost mental health awareness and share kindness.
Sun, 25 Jan 2026 16:00:00 +0000Renovation at historic paper mill among latest Dacorum planning applications
Dacorum Borough Council reviews new planning applications for home extensions, tree works, historic site repairs, and community amenities across Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, and more.
Sun, 25 Jan 2026 15:00:00 +0000Relocating cancer services to Watford 'best for patients, the public and staff'
Watford MP Matt Turmaine explains why he is in favour of relocating specialist cancer services from Mount Vernon to Watford hospital centre.
Sun, 25 Jan 2026 14:34:15 +0000Three people taken to hospital after multi-vehicle crash on motorway near Watford
Three people have been taken to hospital following a multi-vehicle crash on the M1 near Watford this morning.