It is six years since demolition work began to give a new look to a key part of Watford town centre, but for many years a visit to the shops in Charter Place would have been a feature of the Christmas shopping experience.

Many of us will be visiting the town centre to buy our gifts in the build up to December 25, but many of the shops we remember fondly have changed or disappeared altogether.

Read more: The Watford branch of WH Smith many of you will remember

With the help of Watford Museum and its volunteer archivist Christine Orchard, we are looking back at some of those favourite shops and High Street scenes so many of us remember as the countdown to Christmas Day continues.

This picture was captured by the Watford Observer and, judging by the fashion, looks to have been taken not too long after the centre opened in the 1970s.

The concrete structure was home to high street names such as C&A and Top Shop and served shoppers for around 40 years until work began on the extension to what is now Atria Watford.