A popular funfair should have been made part of Watford's centenary celebrations, a senior councillor has said.

Stevens Fun Fair, which has been coming to Watford for 70 years, won't be visiting Cassiobury Park this year.

The reason is partly because Watford Borough Council is hosting a series of events in the park on June 4 to mark 100 years since Watford became a borough - and that date clashes with when the fair usually visits.

But the leader of the Watford Labour group, Cllr Nigel Bell, believes the fair should be involved.

He said: "The council's excuse for not allowing Stevens Fun Fair to use Cassiobury Park this year is that it clashes with the June 4 celebrations.

"Surely that is precisely the point why the traditional Stevens Fair should have been invited this year of all years to be part of those celebrations.

"If you're going to have a big celebration in our main popular public park, surely you invite a funfair that has visited Watford for many years, especially when they want to come."

Liberal Democrat councillor Tim Williams, who holds responsibilities for parks, says space is the main issue.

He said: "We feel that the park will be quite full that weekend and don’t think there is space to accommodate Stevens Fun Fair at that time. It will be extremely busy for the Jubilee and centenary celebrations.

"We have highlighted to Stevens two parks they should visit in Watford this year."

Charmaine Stevens, from Stevens Fun Fair, had asked the council to reconsider its decision but it was rejected.

However, a proposal to permanently take away annual visits to Cassiobury Park and instead make visits every other year could be dropped after Cllr Williams revealed this week that decision "could be reviewed".

See more: Glimmer of hope for future of traditional Watford park funfair

Ms Stevens, who wants to keep bringing the fair to Cassiobury every year, says losing annual visits had left her and a "huge amount" of Watford residents "saddened and disappointed".

She added: "We are very proud of our heritage and tradition, and Watford is a very important part of that. Over the years we have done much to support the town not least playing an important role in supporting the now long gone Horse Show and Carnival.

"This tradition is something that should not be thrown away, especially when you see how much your residents enjoy themselves in Cassiobury Park when it is packed with local families."