A decade was coming to an end and major changes were taking place in Watford as these pictures from our archive show.

A Watford Observer photographer went on a tour of the town at the start of December 1989 almost 35 years ago to take pictures of some of the new developments that were either continuing to take shape or had been completed and were now trading.

Work on two major building projects – a new shopping centre that was to become the Harlequin and the Watford Springs leisure pool complex – was progressing at pace.

What would become one of the shopping centre's car parksWhat would become one of the shopping centre's car parks (Image: Watford Observer)

It was also the era of out-of-town shopping and the growth of retail parks and you may remember visiting these branches of MFI, Carpet Right and Do It All to buy products for your home.

Another view of the construction of what would become the HarlequinAnother view of the construction of what would become the Harlequin (Image: Watford Observer)

Take a look through these images from our archive and they may trigger some other memories of Watford at the end of the eighties.

A close up of the construction of Watford SpringsA close up of the construction of Watford Springs (Image: Watford Observer)

The leisure pool complex was to open the following yearThe leisure pool complex was to open the following year (Image: Watford Observer)

Do It All was WHSmith's attempt to move into the DIY and home improvement marketDo It All was WHSmith's attempt to move into the DIY and home improvement market (Image: Watford Observer)

It's been almost 16 years since MFI ceased operating in this countryIt's been almost 16 years since MFI ceased operating in this country (Image: Watford Observer)

MFI was located next to Carpet Right in WatfordMFI was located next to Carpet Right in Watford (Image: Watford Observer)