Archive

  • YOU, M.E AND A THANKFUL OF THANKS

    Okay, firstly I’d like to admit to being very very sad, not sad as in “Pass the Kleenex” but sad as in staying in on a Saturday night curled up on the sofa in my Jim jams, telly on, watching X-Factor. However, if I didn’t have M.E rest assured

  • Crowds brave a soaking at Christmas lights turn on

    Hundreds braved pouring rain and plunging temperatures this evening as they celebrated the turning on of the Harlequin Christmas illuminations. Heavy crowds thronged the Lower High Street as spectators young and old cheered on a range of celebrity

  • More than 14,000 Sir Elton tickets sold

    Watford hope next summer’s Sir Elton John concert at Vicarage Road will be close to selling out by Monday evening after 14,000 tickets were sold before going on general sale tomorrow. More than 8,000 seats were purchased in the first two hours on Monday

  • Festival to showcase 70 real ales

    Real ale drinkers will raise a toast to the 15th annual Watford Beer Festival, which begins next week. More than 70 different brews will be served at West Herts Sports Club, in Park Avenue, at the event, organised by the Watford branch of the

  • Seeking the next green apprentice

    Councils are looking for young people keen to follow in the footsteps of Alan Titchmarsh by joining the Green Space Apprenticeship scheme. Green apprentices receive a wage while they train and completing an apprenticeship provides the skills

  • Get ready for winter

    The downturn in the economy has led many homeowners to consider letting as a viable alternative to selling. Landlords who are new to the lettings market may not fully realise what work needs to be undertaken prior to winter – although if they have

  • ‘Get prepared to beat New Year rush’

    Connells in Bushey is reporting a significant increase in the number of people wanting to buy in the area and the company says the only thing stopping them from selling more property is the shortage of new instructions coming onto the market.

  • Young artist celebrates poster success

    Nine-year-old Brittney-Anne Wiggan’s “inspiring” poster entry has been chosen to advertise this year’s South Oxhey Christmas Fun Day. Watford Rural Parish Council asked school children from across the area to each design a poster advertising

  • Going under the hammer

    Network Auctions’ October sale at Hatfield House brought the company’s total property sales to an impressive £70 million. The auction room saw lively and competitive bidding for the 26 lots on offer – some from as far afield as Avon, Worcestershire

  • Designer living

    This brand new, 4,671 sq. ft, five double-bedroom, detached house is situated in the popular location of The Drive, Rickmansworth. Viewing is essential to appreciate the versatile accommodation, which is spread over the three floors, comprising

  • A perfect family home

    Springwell House is an architect-designed, five-bedroom home and is offered for sale with contemporary fixtures and fittings throughout, situated in a premier location within reach of the town centre and station. Built by renowned local

  • Car wash clean up

    Hand car washes are the latest service to be scrutinized by the heath and safety spotlight. Michael Georgiou, Environmental Health Officer, said: “Visits will concentrate on the risks to employees from electrical safety, slips and trips, manual handling

  • St Albans Road flasher to be sentenced

    A 53-year-old man who indecently exposed himself in a Watford main road faces sentence tomorrow. Kerry Maj admitted a charge that he “intentionally exposed his genitals” in St Albans Road in the early evening of Friday, May 1 at a previous hearing.

  • MP ups pressure on train company

    MP Claire Ward has warned under-fire train operator London Midland it has “a long way to go” before it satisfies Government expectations. The company was rebuked this week by Transport Secretary Lord Andrew Adonis, who announced its performance

  • Buncefield explosion defendants to enter pleas

    The five companies charged with health and safety offences following the Buncefield explosion will appear at the Old Bailey tomorrow. Oil giant Total UK and four other companies are due to enter pleas to criminal charges relating to the 2005

  • Council planners warn 'some offers may be too good to be true'

    Developers interested in building houses in the borough are being warned that some offers may be 'too good to be true'. Hertsmere Borough Council planning officers issued the warning after premium plots of land were sold to investors who didn't check

  • Philharmonic society celebrates 75th season

    The celebrated works of Elgar, Delius and Holst raised the roof of the Watford Colosseum as the Watford Philharmonic Society began the celebrations to mark its 75th season. Hundreds of classical music fans filled the hall last night (Wednesday

  • Big brother to leave Elstree

    More than £300,000 is set to be invested in upgrading Hertsmere's CCTV cameras. A new agreement with Hertfordshire CCTV partnership means the control centre will be moved to an existing facility in Stevenage, and new cameras will be installed

  • Toxic drugs led to 'healthy' woman's death

    A toxic cocktail of drugs mistakenly used as cocaine led to the sudden death of a “fit and well” young woman, an inquest has heard. Sasha Jones, 28, was found dead inside a first floor flat in Fleetwood Way, South Oxhey, after enjoying drinks and using

  • New twist in historic barn dispute

    A long-running planning dispute involving a multinational company, a determined neighbour and a 500-year-old barn took another turn this week. The Grade II listed barn, adjacent to the historic Oxhey Hall, in Hampermill Lane, has been the subject

  • Seven cars vandalised in one night

    Seven cars were damaged in one night as vandals targeted a road in South Oxhey. Windows were smashed and even holes drilled into the bodywork of vehicles parked in Oaklands Road. Police, who are hunting the perpetrators, believe the incidents occurred

  • Celebrating Hertfordshire’s successful businesswomen

    There are around 680,000 majority women-owned businesses in the UK generating £45 billion for the UK economy. Women’s Enterprise Day on November 18, part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, is all about celebrating successful female entrepreneurs,

  • Cassiobury parking restrictions edge closer

    More than 300 people attended a public meeting to discuss the thorny issue of parking controls. Residents from the Cassiobury Estate squeezed into a Colosseum meeting room on Monday night to discuss the proposed implementation of a controlled

  • Residents warn of crime and grime in Watford Street

    A rising tide of crime, grime, vandalism and antisocial behaviour threatens the future prosperity of a once proud Watford street, it was warned this week. Residents and traders living in and around the Queens Road area fear loutish behaviour

  • Bad debt Britain: Nine out of ten firms see rise in bad debt

    New research published today by Creditsafe, the business intelligence experts, reveals that 91 per cent of UK companies have seen an increase in defaulted payments from creditors in the last 12 months. One in ten companies (10.4 per cent) has seen

  • Rickmansworth groups' £10k windfall

    Several Rickmansworth community groups and charities will benefit from a share of £10,000. Like all 78 county councillors, Rickmansworth representative Barbara Lamb was given a £10,000 community grant to distribute to deserving causes.

  • Traffic delays on M1 spread into Watford

    An accident closing one lane of traffic on the northbound carriageway of the M1 between junctions 4 and 5 is causing a knock-on effect in the surrounding area. Queues are building up on the sliproad at junction 5 Watford from London and there

  • Parents 'numb' at Chris' death

    The heartbroken parents of Chris Puddifoot, who died in a car crash just weeks after his sister drowned during a world cycling trip, have described him as a “model son” who was “warm and caring”. Michael and Mei Puddifoot said they were “numb