From fantasy and sci-fi to historical fiction and biographies, here are our picks of the best books of the year.

From fantasy and sci-fi to historical fiction and biographies, here are our picks of the best books of the year.

An author from Harpenden has been longlisted for a prestigious award.

A new book will tell the story of Watford’s lost places.

An author from St Albans has been shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s prestigious 2020 Romantic Novel Awards.

Those taking their government-approved daily walk have been warned not to pick wildflowers - or risk facing an eye-watering £5,000 fine.

Shoppers at Aldi have been warned of voucher scam circulating on social media.

An extra £390,000 is being made available to community groups across Hertfordshire this year, amid the county’s ongoing response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

A father has paid tribute to his "brave and fearless" Royal Marine son, ten years to the day after he died in action in Afghanistan.

Police would like to speak to two men following investigations of fraudsters scamming an elderly woman.

'Coronavirus lockdown is not responsible for domestic abuse - people are.'

Hackers have been reported to be ‘Zoombombing’ private online video meetings with abusive messages and offensive video footage.

In normal times, boredom is easily alleviated through the gamut of activity on our doorsteps. Coffee mornings, the cinema, body rubs, pubs and clubs all grab our attention, but when limitations are enforced, oh, what to do?

There cannot have been many successful run chases in the history of the Watford Observer Fourteen14 Shield that started and ended with a six, less so with both shots being struck by members of the same family. But that was what happened on Tuesday as Watford Haidery capitalised on a blistering early onslaught to secure their place in Wednesday’s final against Abbots Langley with a five-wicket victory over West Herts A.

Toby Roland-Jones claimed career-best bowling figures on day two of Middlesex’s County Championship game with Gloucester at Merchant Taylors’ School.

Tim Murtagh grabbed his fourth five-wicket haul in the County Championship this season as Middlesex rolled Gloucestershire over for 137 to clinch victory inside three days at Merchant Taylors’ School.

A destructive display of batting power propelled Watford Haidery to their first Watford Observer Fourteen14 Shield triumph for 30 years as holders Abbots Langley were swept aside by more than 100 runs in last night’s final.

The margin of victory was perhaps closer than it should have been but Leverstock Green A held their nerve in the final over to beat Watford Town A by five runs and win the Watford Observer Fourteen14 Plate last night.

Dawid Malan’s imperious unbeaten knock of 91 steered Middlesex to a rare Vitality Blast victory against Gloucestershire at Radlett as they climbed to second place in the South Group.

Radlett Cricket Club head groundsman Nick Searle has received a commendation in this year’s annual ECB Groundsman of the Year Awards.

Spirit, determination and quality on the ball all came to the fore as Watford Ladies claimed a breathless 5-4 victory at Plymouth Argyle to keep them at the summit of the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division.

Watford Ladies head coach Clinton Lancaster has been praised by general manager Grace Williams after he was named FA Women’s National League Premier Division Manager of the Month for December.

Watford’s Women’s FA Cup hopes ended in the fourth round as Sunderland prevailed in the clash of the National League high-flyers with a 2-0 victory in the north east.

Watford Ladies game against Hounslow in the FA Women's National League has been postponed due to constant heavy rain.

Middlesbrough stand between Watford Ladies and a place in the FAWNL Plate final after the Golden Girls swept aside Chichester City 4-0 to march into the last four.

Watford Ladies captain Helen Ward has been called up for international duty by Wales for a friendly with Estonia.

The bad weather has caused yet more frustration for Watford Ladies after their FAWNL Plate semi-final at Middlesbrough tomorrow was postponed.

Watford Ladies will face West Bromwich Albion in the final of the FA Women's National League Plate after beating Middlesbrough 2-0 in the semi-final on Sunday.

With a large number of options available on the market there is a showering solution for every situation. Below is a brief outline of the options available to you when you are looking to install a new shower.

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You’ve probably heard the term “flattening the curve” more times than you can count over the past couple of weeks. But if we’re being totally honest with each other, there’s a good chance there’s something else that needs flattening, too.

What a difference a pandemic makes. A few months ago, the only thing standing between you and your career goals was how hard you were willing to hustle. But as you adapt to indefinite lockdown life, the hustle may now be feeling all too real.

Restaurants and cafes are closed to sit-down customers so food services across the Sydney are getting creative, offering you an easier way to do-it-yourself from the comfort of your own home.

Motherhood, for now, looks vastly different for Sarah Roberts than she expected it to – but nonetheless, the actor wants to speak candidly about the heartbreak she and husband James Stewart endured after she suffered two miscarriages in the past year.

I used to have advice for girlfriends meeting my mum. Don’t be fooled by the whole caring, compassionate physiotherapist for babies and children thing. It’s a trap. Because come nightfall, if you dared stand within 1.5 metres of her and a board game, you saw another side that threatened to send you into self-isolation from her – for life.

THE hospitality industry has reacted with both optimism and trepidation to the news that venues will soon be able to serve a small number of in-house diners.

Driving up the long curved path up to The Grove always feels like a treat, and none more so than on last Friday evening when I was invited to try the hotel’s newly refurbished restaurant.

Great British Bake Off semi-finalist, Stacey Hart, has taken on a new challenge - creating delicious treats without using refined sugar. Here the baker from Hertfordshire explains what prompted her to make changes and shares her recipes.

Wherever you stand on the plastic straw debate, food writer Melissa Hemsley is right: “You don’t get two in your mojito on a Friday night now!”

Having a facial in a department store might not sound the most relaxing experience. However, once the door slides shut on Dior’s private spa room in Debenhams’ flagship store in intu Watford, it only takes a moment to tune out the voices from outside and tap into your inner zen.

The moment you step through the door, Cottonmill Spa sprawls before you like the promise of paradise. Not for nothing are guests given maps to help them find their way around. You could easily get lost here, but oh what a place to get lost in.

When I told people I was going to try axe throwing, I was met mostly with confused expressions. While in America the target sport has fast become a popular pastime, the UK has yet to catch up. That is about to change, however, as the world’s largest urban axe throwing company, Bad Axe, has just opened its first venue outside of North America.

A NIGHT out at the Alban Arena’s Christmas panto in St Albans has become a tradition each year for many families and groups, as it has, I’m glad to say, for ours too.

Here in St Albans Thai Square can be found in the historical quarter of the city on the corner of George Street. The entrance of Thai Square is flanked by two stone elephants with their trunks fortuitously elevated. We open the door to a richly decorated lobby.

BRISTOL – In an effort to keep motorists informed, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provides weekly information about highway...

BRISTOL – In an effort to keep motorists informed, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provides weekly information about highway...

BRISTOL – In an effort to keep motorists informed, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provides weekly information about highway...

BRISTOL – In an effort to keep motorists informed, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provides weekly information about highway...