Watford Town Centre Partnership is to cease trading.

The news was broken by chairman of the partnership, Roger Gagan, in a letter to members.

Roger said: "The WTCP Board of Directors reviewed the operation and status of the WTCP in a recent meeting, and unanimously voted to cease trading.

"Although the partnership has achieved a great deal in Watford with membership growing over the past 3 years, the Directors felt that as the WTCP was one of many organisations operating in the town centre, it duplicated many other organisations' offerings".

The WTCP plans to cease trading as a company on April 30 and the Town Centre Manager's post, which was directly linked to the WTCP company, will also cease.

Heather Britton said: "I've had a great time building up a fantastic range of events and helping to make improvements to the town centre, and I'm very sad to be leaving my role as town centre manager.

"However, as a Watford resident I look forward to seeing how future plans for the town centre develop.

"It's been my pleasure to have met lots of wonderful people during my time as town centre manager here, it's been great working with them to make Watford a really great place to be."

For those members of the Watford Business Against Crime (WBAC) scheme, access to radios and shared information will continue under a new scheme being set up by the Watford & West Herts Chamber of Commerce, and WBAC members will be updated of progress by the end of April.

The majority of the activities undertaken by the WTCP will be handed over to other town organisations, including Watford Borough Council, The Town Centre Chaplaincy, Watford & West Herts Chamber of Commerce.