A massive fire lit up London Colney on Thursday, as dozens of firefighters from across Hertfordshire rushed to the former Napsbury Hospital site in Shenley Lane at 6.45pm and battled with the blaze until 10am the following morning.

The disused four-storey building was gutted by the fire which was eventually extinguished by 12 fire crews using two hydralic platforms and breathing apparatus.

Police cordoned off roads around the site and set up diversions until noon on Friday.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

[Posted on the Watford Observer website on November 24, 2001]