Hertfordshirecounty

A vehicle crashed into Stevenage's Dunelm store at Roebuck Retail Park on 5 November at around 11.30am. The building was evacuated and two people were taken to hospital for further care.

Our Lady Catholic Primary School in Hitchin has been praised by Ofsted for its inclusive culture and strong leadership under the new inspection framework. The school received Strong Standard judgements, with inspectors highlighting the quality of Early Years, inclusion, leadership and governance, and personal development and wellbeing.

Charles Tyrwhitt is opening a new store in The Maltings shopping centre in St Albans on Saturday, 7 November. The 1,320 sq ft shop will be the retailer's 46th UK store and only the second without a traditional till, using a mobile-first approach to allow staff to interact more freely with customers. The opening marks the company's 40th-anniversary celebrations. Customers will receive complimentary drinks and the first 20 shoppers to make a purchase will receive a gift.

Police were called to Cambrian Way in Hemel Hempstead at 12.28pm on 5 November after reports of a man seen with what appeared to be weapons. Hammond Academy primary school was closed as a safety measure while officers searched the area with helicopter support. Two men were detained and questioned but established as not involved. No weapons were located and police said there was not believed to be an active threat.

A man was arrested after another man suffered serious head injuries in a Hemel Hempstead High Street altercation shortly after 1.30am on 4 October. The incident involved a group of people, and two other men suffered minor injuries. Police released a CCTV image of a man they wished to identify, believing he may have been in the area and could assist the investigation. One man was arrested and another interviewed under caution; both were released while enquiries continued.

Danish lifestyle retailer Søstrene Grene will open a new store in Hitchin on Friday, 20 November at 9:59 am. The shop at 11a/b Bancroft will stock home décor, kitchenware, stationery, gifts and seasonal items, and will be the brand's third Hertfordshire location after St Albans and Welwyn Garden City. The first 100 customers will receive a voucher for a woollen throw, with complimentary tote bags and live entertainment also on offer.

An 18-year-old driver was seriously injured in a collision involving a black Mazda and a black Fiat Ducato van at around 8.35pm on Wednesday, 4 November, in the Maiden Street and Hall's Green area of Weston. The van driver, a man in his 60s, sustained minor injuries. Police are appealing for witnesses and dash cam footage.

Plans to redevelop Bushey Golf and Country Club with 250 homes and a £31.6 million community hub have collapsed after nearly two years of negotiations between Hertsmere Borough Council, The Hill Group and Griggs Homes. A procurement organisation ruled that the Hill/Griggs joint venture could not contract directly with the council, forcing Hill Holdings Ltd to be the sole contracting party. Hill and Griggs said this conflicted with their original agreement and withdrew, demanding £370,000 plus VAT for costs incurred. The council has admitted no liability and is seeking legal advice.

A four-bedroom detached house with four reception rooms is on the market in Northwood at £1,295,000. The property at Grove Farm Park has over 2,000 square feet of accommodation, including two bathrooms, an open-plan kitchen, dining and family area, underfloor heating and air conditioning. Outside is a carriage driveway, garage and landscaped garden. Northwood offers access to a Metropolitan Line station and local amenities including shops and a Waitrose supermarket.

A six-bedroom detached bungalow named Three Ways is on the market in Poleshill, Sarratt, near Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, listed at £1,695,000. The property includes a self-contained annexe, four bathrooms, three reception rooms, a double garage and approximately 0.6 acres of landscaped grounds.

The Fox and Hounds in Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, features in the prestigious Michelin Guide, praised for its seasonal cooking with French and Italian influences centred around a Josper charcoal oven. The village pub, run by James Rix and Bianca Rix for more than 20 years, offers hand-rolled pasta, whole grilled fish, rare-breed meats and locally sourced vegetables, as well as a Sunday roast. The Michelin Guide commends its 'pleasantly rustic feel' and 'hearty cooking', noting that classical dishes form the basis of its extensive menu. Diners have also left positive reviews on Tripadvisor, with regular customers saying they are 'never disappointed'.

Filming of The Batman: Part II was halted after a cast member was run over by the Batmobile during a dramatic scene at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden in October, according to the Watford Observer. The unidentified cast member required hospital treatment but was recovering at home as of last week, and filming had resumed.

The Comet reports that Mark Felton, 54, of Stevenage, was jailed for four years and 11 months at Cambridge Crown Court on 23 October after admitting fraud by false representation and money laundering. Between 2022 and 2023, Felton used fake identities to secure vehicle finance, resold cars multiple times and took payments for vehicles he never delivered. Police linked 34 offences to him causing losses exceeding £500,000 to victims and businesses. A Proceeds of Crime process will seek to recover the stolen money from his assets.

Hertsmere Borough Council has refused to publish an 'independent' review justifying £1.65 million of spending on Boreham Wood FC's new stand. The Herts Advertiser reports that the review was written by Nick Small, a Labour cabinet member for Liverpool City Council who also discussed a film corridor partnership with Hertsmere. The council told of receiving bids from four consultancies and conducting detailed evaluation but has not disclosed whether it considered potential conflicts of interest.

The former Popworld nightclub at 7-11 Bull Plain in Hertford, empty since July last year, could be converted into a restaurant and six flats under a planning application. Four flats would have one bedroom and two would have two bedrooms, with a small extension for the restaurant kitchen. The applicant, Chandarana Developments Hertford Ltd, proposes restaurant hours until 10pm on weekdays and midnight at weekends. A planning decision has not yet been made.

The Watford Observer reports that plans have been submitted to Three Rivers District Council to demolish a property in Lavrock Lane, Croxley Green, and replace it with a two-storey detached house. The proposed building would include dormers, rooflights, solar panels, a detached outbuilding, parking and landscaping works. Several other planning applications have also been submitted to the council this week.

The Farmers on Christmas Lights Tour will return for its sixth year on 20 December, bringing a parade of illuminated tractors through Baldock, Letchworth and Hitchin. Organised by farmer Richard Hill, the event aims to raise £100,000 through donations, sponsorship and tractor dedications. More than 50,000 people are expected to line the route, which begins at 6pm in Baldock and reaches Hitchin by 7.30pm.

Leverstock Green Tennis Club has applied to Dacorum Borough Council for permission to build two canopy-covered padel courts, which would be operated by Zing Padel. The new courts would be built on grassland next to two existing padel courts installed at the club last year. The club says the existing courts have been in 'high demand' and 'consistently booked out'.

The Watford Observer reports that overgrown garages at 56-58 Radlett Road have been approved for demolition to make way for two semi-detached three-storey homes. The revised plans, approved on November 4, include front porch extensions and additional windows. Neighbours were split: some welcomed clearing the site they called an eyesore, while others objected that the three-storey homes would look dominating and out of character.

Jo Williams, a former development head coach at Watford FC Women, has been appointed head of football at St Albans School. She will lead the school's football programme for both boys and girls and serve as lead coach for the senior boys' 1st XI. Williams previously worked as director of football at Charterhouse School and helped develop Watford talent, with players going on to train with London Bees and Arsenal Under-21s.

Plans have been submitted to Hertsmere Borough Council for extensions and alterations to the Battle Axes Inn on Butterfly Lane in Elstree. The proposals include single and two-storey extensions, changes to the building's exterior, landscaping works and a car park extension.

A crash on the A1(M) southbound between Junction 7 for Stevenage and Junction 6 for Welwyn Garden City is causing hour-long delays. Emergency services are at the scene.

Refugees and volunteers in Hertfordshire have created a 'Stronger Together' wall hanging as part of Inter Faith Week running from November 8 to 15. Led by Herts Welcomes Refugees, the project brings people together at the charity's drop-ins to celebrate unity and connection across faiths and communities.

Two criminals from Watford have been jailed after police recovered £80 million worth of cocaine hidden in a lorry in November 2021. Craig Le-Mare, 36, was sentenced to 20 years after being found guilty of conspiracy to supply class A drugs; Michael Weston, 57, and Kelly Robertson, 46, received 12 years nine months and 15 years respectively after admitting their involvement. The drugs had been concealed in 18 holdalls within a container that arrived at Felixstowe port from Mexico.

A fire broke out in a top-floor flat on Upton Avenue in St Albans at 4am on Monday, November 2, leaving a woman with burn injuries who was taken to Luton and Dunstable Hospital. Herts Fire and Rescue Service has completed its investigation and confirmed the fire was started accidentally. Six fire engines and an aerial ladder platform attended the multi-occupancy property, which was evacuated by police.

Walter House, delivered by Hightown Housing Association, has officially opened in Welwyn Garden City with 128 new affordable homes. The development on Broadwater Road comprises 90 homes for social rent and 38 for shared ownership, with all social rent homes allocated to people on Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council's housing register. The scheme includes 51 one-bedroom, 76 two-bedroom and one three-bedroom apartment, all designed with sustainability in mind.

Hertfordshire County Council's Liberal Democrat cabinet agreed last month to join the City of Sanctuary Local Authority Network and take steps towards Council of Sanctuary status. The decision was challenged by a group of councillors led by Cllr Saul Jacob, who raised concerns about financial implications, procedural deficiencies and insufficient public consultation. A specially convened overview and scrutiny committee meeting on 3 November considered these objections but found no reason to block the decision, allowing the council to proceed.