In February, families were left knee-deep in a “fountain of sludge and filth” when a water main burst.

People living in Gateshead Road were woken at 4am to find a mountain of excrement, tampons and toilet paper spewing from their drains and gushing from their front to back gardens.

This was the second time the water mains had burst in a week. Householders alerted Thames Water but claim it took over a week the first time and two days the second time to clear the filth up.

The residents complained they were sitting on a “ticking time bomb” and had no response from Thames Water asking it to properly investigate the source of the problem.

Children were left heartbroken when their mini motorbikes were stolen from a shipping container at Slade Farm in Butterfly Lane near Radlett.

The thieves took £12,000 worth of equipment belonging to Lee Aldridge and his four children.
The father said in stealing the bikes the thieves had stolen his children’s hopes and dreams for the year.

Meanwhile, a baby was thriving despite being born at just 24 weeks and weighing less than a bag of sugar.

Chase Brown, who was born with a hole in his heart, an intestinal blockage, and collapsed lung, astounded doctors who said his survival was a miracle.

He was born three weeks after his mother Shoana, 20, and her partner Richie were involved in a severe car crash.

Two months after his birth, Chase was still in hospital but was “chubbier” and undergoing surgery. 

Later in the month, the new neighbourhood Inspector for Hertsmere Richard Johnson said he planned to make beating anti-social behaviour in Borehamwood his top priority.

He promised to tackle problem youngsters who were tormenting quiet residential streets in Borehamwood.

Insp Johnson said officers had started regular patrols to deter the rowdy children.

But he admitted it would not be an easy fix, adding he was looking at diversion schemes to help the bored teenagers.