More than 60 workers, volunteers and managers joined Watford’s Conservative MP Richard Harrington at Watford Workshop's annual Christmas party on Friday.

The MP announced during the party that he would become patron of the charity and said: "I have always admired Watford Workshop for the work they do and I’m excited to become more involved in the New Year."

Watford Workshop Ltd’s mission has been "to provide disabled people with work experience, skills, training and employment helping them achieve greater independence, become more integrated into the community and where possible move them on to mainstream employment".

Watford Workshop’s day to day operations are controlled by a full-time General Manager, Works Manager, Training Manager, two, assisted by two part-time administrative assistants.

The current workforce is comprised of 19 Department of Work & Pensions Operatives, seven Hertfordshire County Council clients under training and five direct employees; together with 10 volunteers, who assist, on an average of one day per week.