As the coldest weather in ten years set it in early March, a foodbank appealed for “urgent” donations and a church opened its doors to rough sleepers.

Watford Foodbank said it had shortages of tinned foods, fruit juice and long life milk as demand surged.

And Watford-based charity New Hope worked with St Mary’s Church, in High Street, to provide rough sleepers shelter from the ‘beast from the east’.

The Mayor of Watford slammed Government demands to increase the number of houses being built in the borough.

Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Sajid Javid announced a “revolution” in how councils approach housebuilding.

The Government called on urban councils to increase their housing numbers but not “tear up the green belt”.

Mayor Dorothy Thornhill called the proposals “outrageous” if other factors were not taken into account.

A "caring, kind, passionate, considerate, fun-loving and immeasurably patient" mother was killed in an accident in Watford town centre.

Gail Miller, 59, died in when she was hit by a skip lorry in High Street on March 12.

Just one day before, on Mother’s Day, she had given what would be her final sermon at Elim Pentecostal Church in St

Albans Road, Watford, where her husband Guy is the pastor.

A 19-year-old man from Watford was arrested in March after a hoax bomb threat closed hundreds of schools around the UK.

Police responded to reports from more than 400 schools and colleges across the country - including six in Hertfordshire.

Hertfordshire Constabulary quickly confirmed the threats to bomb school grounds if money was not paid were a hoax.

Officers from the force, working as part of an National Crima Agency-led investigation, arrested the 19-year-old in Watford

on suspicion of blackmail and making malicious communications.

South West Herts MP David Gauke faced calls to resign as Justice Secretary by victims of black

cab rapist John Worboys.

The women won a legal challenge to keep the serial attacker, who committed crimes against 105 women between 2002 and

2008, behind bars.

He was jailed indefinitely in 2009 with a minimum term of eight years but there was outrage when it emerged he was to be

freed having served just 10 years.

Mr Gauke said the Government would not pursue a judicial review after the Parole Board decided to approve his release.