Up-and-coming athletes will now have the chance to gain professional support.

Now in its second year, Everyone Active’s Sporting Champions initiative is helping emerging talent in St Albans reach their “full potential” with gold, silver or bronze sponsorship.

These packages provide up to £5,000 to help towards training, equipment, travel and competition costs for the athletes.

Diver James Pollard benefits from the scheme and trains regularly at Everyone Active’s Westminster Lodge Leisure Centre, which is managed on behalf of St Albans Council.

The family of a woman who died after a hit and run incident in St Albans paid tribute to a devoted, warm and sociable mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Barbara Liddle, 76, of Camp Road, St Albans, was crossing the road outside her home to wait for her friend to collect her before a darts match when she was hit by a vehicle that did not stop.

Villagers are concerned plans for thousands of homes a short distance from their homes will overwhelm their existing streets and services.

And residents of London Colney discovered that Hertsmere Borough Council plans to create a new garden village with 4,000 homes near their village.

This is part of the council’s local plan, which looks to address how the borough needs to develop over the next 15 years.