An online poll conducted by the Watford Observer has shown overwhelming support for the new Metropolitan Line station planned for West Watford to be called "Vicarage Road".

Of the almost 500 readers who had taken part in the ballot by this morning, 84 per cent said they wanted the station to be named after the road where it will be situated.

Only 12 per cent expressed a preference for the station to be called "West Watford" - the name currently preferred by Transport for London (TfL), which has the final say.

Four per cent of voters said they liked neither name.

The results come as politicians in Watford have started to publicly lobby tube bosses over the potential names of the two new stations due to be built in West Watford as part of the Croxley Rail Link.

Watford’s directly elected mayor, Dorothy Thornhill, as well as Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors have expressed support for the Vicarage Road name, due to the link with the football club and its wide recognition outside of Watford.

Watford Observer:

The Croxley Rail Link map

Today they were joined by Watford’s Conservative MP, Richard Harrington, who said he would be writing to TfL in support of the Vicarage Road option.

He said: "I fully agree with proposals put forward by Labour and Liberal Democrat groups in Watford and I too will be appealing to TfL for this name change.

"It is only right that the station name marks the significance of Vicarage Road in Watford, not only as the home of Watford FC but also Watford General and the site of the new Health Campus.

"It is a name that people will recognise and is an important part of Watford’s heritage and future."

Transport for London’s board is expected to make a final decision on the names of the two new stations later this month.

The name currently under consideration for the other station, which will be built in Ascot road, is "Cassiobridge".

An earlier option of "Ascot Road" for the station’s name was ruled out because there is an Ascot Station already in Berkshire.

The name "Cassio Bridge" was then mooted, but later amended to "Cassiobridge" after local historians pointed out the old eponymous farm in the area was spelt as one word.