Watford Observer

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 09:13:24 +0100
Hertfordshire hosepipe ban in force with immediate effect
Affinity Water's hosepipe ban for Hertfordshire is now in place with immediate effect.

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Health secretary visits Watford General and hails A&E waits turnaround
Watford General Hospital's turnaround from the bottom of A&E wait rankings to eliminating corridor care was recognised during a visit from the health secretary.

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Council blasts Reform member's 'racist language' over Herts recycling centre closure
Hertfordshire County Council has condemned “racist language” used by a former Reform candidate after Rickmansworth Recycling Centre was closed due to heat.

Sun, 12 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Luxurious home with indoor pool and cinema put on sale for £2.5m
A detached five-bedroom home in Spencer Close, Radlett, is for sale for £2,500,000.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0100
ITV crime drama set for Watford filming return
Filming for the second series of Rose Ayling-Ellis crime drama Code of Silence is set to return to Watford.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 15:34:42 +0100
Delays warning as Watford M1 to close for repair works
Motorists have been warned to expect delays ahead of a full closure of the M1 in Watford due to a track defect.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:50:40 +0100
New look at second series of hit BBC drama filmed near Watford
The BBC has released a new trailer for Ludwig, which stars David Mitchell and was partially filmed in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 14:00:12 +0100
Bumper school car boot sale confirmed
A school's car boot sale is set to return later this month ahead of the summer holidays.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 12:03:32 +0100
Four brilliant businesses that have opened in Watford in recent weeks
Aldi, Hench and Mother Hubbard's are among recent businesses to have opened in Watford.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 11:22:29 +0100
Another village dog show CANCELLED due to hot weather
Chorleywood Village Day dog show has been cancelled due to the extreme heat that is forecast.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 10:35:34 +0100
'Prolific' teenager hit with hefty fine over Watford graffiti
A teenager has been fined thousands of pounds over graffiti in Watford, South Oxhey and across the rail network.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:33:01 +0100
Man arrested as police confirm why helicopter seen in Watford last night
Police have arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of robbery after a large police presence and helicopter were spotted in Watford on Friday night (July 10).

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0100
'Classy' family-run Italian restaurant in a Herts village that's an 'absolute gem'
L'Olivo Ristorante Italiano in the village of Wheathampstead has been described as "classy" and an "absolute gem".

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:00:00 +0100
Hertfordshire hotel home to UK's 'most beautiful pool' that feels Mediterranean
The Grove hotel in Hertfordshire has earned praise for its outdoor pool, dubbed among the UK's most beautiful.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 06:30:00 +0100
The Watford-area GP practices most likely to pick up right away
The GP Patient Survey 2026 asked Watford patients how often their surgery picks up the phone straight away.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0100
The beach named among the UK’s best that’s ‘magic’ and just 2 hours 30 from Herts
Kent beach, Dungeness, which is around two hours from Hertfordshire, has been named among the UK's best beaches. Here's why.

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 09:47:00 +0100
Remembering Watford historian and librarian Helen Rudd
For nearly 60 years, Watford’s quiet scholar Helen Rudd devoted herself to transcribing parish records, cataloguing Aldenham’s vast library.

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:40:00 +0100
'Best and worst' GP practices in and around Watford revealed in patient survey
The Watford area's best and worst GPs according to hundreds of patients have been revealed.

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:03:11 +0100
Hertfordshire hosepipe ban announced by Affinity Water
Affinity Water has announced it will introduce a hosepipe ban across its central region, including Hertfordshire, from 12.01am on Friday July 17.

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:00:00 +0100
Harry Potter-themed Leavesden Airbnb must shut down over neighbours' noise woes
The council has refused to let a Harry Potter-themed Airbnb near Leavesden Studios keep operating after neighbours' noise complaints.

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:35:53 +0100
'Contemporary' homes planned in bid to demolish 20 'underutilised' garages
“Underutilised” Watford garages could soon be demolished for two 'contemporary' homes under new plans.

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Soft fruit favourites on offer this week for picking fresh at home
The new Everbearer Strawberry ‘Sweet Summer’ really is cream of the crop in You Garden’s offers this week.

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:30:00 +0100
Strikes WILL go ahead today and tomorrow - last Euston to Watford train by 5.30pm
Strike action will go ahead today and tomorrow, LNR has confirmed, meaning last trains will leave Euston for Watford before 5.30pm.

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 05:28:00 +0100
Stunning four-bed home on sale for £1.4m named Zoopla's 'property of the week'
A four-bedroom detached Edwardian house quoted at £1,375,000 is described as 'beautifully presented'.

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 17:59:17 +0100
26-year-old man arrested on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe
A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the death of Ann Widdecombe.

Fri, 10 Jul 2026 16:11:39 +0100
Murder probe launched following death of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe
A murder investigation is under way following the death of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:56:25 +0100
M25 reopens after serious crash causing 80-minute delays and eight-mile queues
There are 80-minutes of delays and eight miles of queues after a crash on the M25 near Rickmansworth.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:48:53 +0100
Boy, 12, ‘grabbed by man’ outside shop near school sparks police appeal
A 12-year-old boy was left “shaken” after being grabbed by a man in Watford, police said while launching an appeal.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:51:48 +0100
Watford milkmen's 'outstanding victory' in legal battle for union recognition
Watford milkmen at Milk & More have won an “outstanding victory” in their legal battle for union recognition.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 13:53:33 +0100
Skaters blindsided by 'shady' decision to sell skatepark which 'means a lot to many'
Skaters were blindsided by news Watford Skatepark, which “means a lot to a lot of people”, is being sold.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:57:28 +0100
'Severe' Hertfordshire M1 delays as emergency services called to 'crash' - recap
Two lanes of the M1 have been closed in Hertfordshire, causing long delays heading northbound.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:55:00 +0100
'Incredible' endangered red panda twins born at Hertfordshire Zoo
Two adorable endangered red panda twins have been born at Hertfordshire Zoo - the first in 12 years.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 11:55:00 +0100
Watford shop 'closing down since the minute it opened' put on market
Watford High Street shop Well Home, which has been “closing down from the minute it opened”, has been put on the market.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:53:00 +0100
Bushey mum's breast cancer caught early thanks to her hair routine
A Bushey grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer after finding an indentation in her breast which only became visible when she lifted her arms to blow-dry her hair.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 10:25:00 +0100
Vintage train to pass through Watford on 'secret' track section
Commuters may spot the Sarah Siddons vintage train completing London Transport Museum’s last Heritage Train Journey of the year from July 24-26.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:35:22 +0100
Man 'stared at woman and performed sex act' on Watford train - CCTV appeal launched
A man allegedly “stared” at a woman and masturbated on a Lioness Line train between Watford Junction and London Euston.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 09:06:58 +0100
Ex-police sergeant suffered with mental health before taking own life, inquest hears
A former Metropolitan Police sergeant who struggled with mental health issues died after being struck by a train in Buckinghamshire, an inquest has heard.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 06:00:00 +0100
Save £750pp on 11-day Cologne, Rhine Gorge and medieval Germany cruise
Riviera Travel’s Deal of the Week: Experience some of the world’s most inspiring scenery and save up to £750pp on Riviera Travel’s 11-day – Cologne, the Rhine Gorge and Medieval Germany river cruise, departing 30th September 2026.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:30:00 +0100
'They saved our happy little boy', says mum running for GOSH day before his surgery
“GOSH saved our little boy’s life” says a Kings Langley mum who will run in support of the charity one day before her son undergoes surgery.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0100
Watford faith groups discuss ethics of artificial intelligence
Faith leaders and young people gathered to discuss the intersection of spirituality and modern technology.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 05:00:00 +0100
British Hare Krishna aid team serves hot meals after Venezuela earthquake
Food For All, a Hare Krishna-inspired charity, has deployed to Venezuela following the devastation caused by a powerful quake.

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:59:53 +0100
New Watford office scheme fully let ahead of launch
A new office scheme in Watford’s sought-after commercial area has opened and is already fully let - three months before its official launch event.

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:20:00 +0100
'Embarrassing' 170-boulders saga rumbles on as councils pass buck to each other
Six months after it was announced 170 “unlawful” boulders would be removed from Croxley Green's village green, they remain in place.

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:28:40 +0100
Crash blocks major road near M1 with traffic building - recap
Two of three lanes are currently blocked on the A405 between Watford and St Albans, just under the M1 bridge, after a crash.

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:10:00 +0100
Watford motorists sentenced for drink driving and jumping red light
Three Watford motorists have been sentenced for drink driving and jumping a red light in magistrates' courts over the past week.

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:30:00 +0100
Pictures show 'sinkhole' depression which has closed Watford road
Highways have shared an update on the “sinkhole” which has appeared at a busy junction in Oxhey, Watford.

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 12:08:53 +0100
Garage fire sparks 'avoid the area' warning as firefighters tackle blaze - recap
Herts Police and Herts Fire and Rescue have been called to the scene of a fire in Old Uxbridge Road, between West Hyde and Denham Garden Village.

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 11:55:00 +0100
Road to shut during four-week works to replace 237 metres of pipes under Watford
Closing an "important route" will be required during month-long works to replace 237 metres of underground pipes in Watford.

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:35:00 +0100
One week left to claim winning lottery ticket bought in Watford
The holder of a EuroMillions ticket bought in Watford has just a week to go until the deadline, National Lottery operator Allwyn warns.

Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:15:00 +0100
Caravan site plan recommended for approval but condition limiting use sought
Plans for a Kings Langley caravan site have been recommended for approval despite concerns over “intensification of use”.

home