In June, pupils, parents and townspeople mourned after two teenagers were killed by a train.

Charleigh Disbrey, 15, and Mert Karaoglan, 18, who both attended Hertswood Academy in Borehamwood, were hit by a moving train at Elstree & Borehamwood Station, near Red Road.

Pupils, parents and friends left flowers and cards outside the school gates to remember the talented young musician and budding film-maker.

The tragedy came on the same day Dr Dena Coleman, headmistress of Yavneh College, died suddenly of meningitis.

Also in June, the family of a fallen soldier who received the Victoria Cross held a memorial service a year after he was killed in action.

Lance Corporal James Ashworth, 22, of the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, died during a fierce battle with the Taliban in Helmand's Nahr-e Saraj district, in Afghanistan.

His family held a small service at the Royal British Legion, in Shenley Road, Borehamwood, and laid a wreath in the branch’s memorial garden.

His sister, Paige Ashworth, 18, who lives in Borehamwood, paid tribute to her "gentle giant" of a brother.

Later in the month, residents claimed controversial plans to build houses on a peaceful patch of green belt land in Shenley would “erode the feel of the village forever”.

Hertsmere Borough Council’s planning committee approved plans to build two new social housing flats on the grassland in Shenleybury Villas.

Householders feared the two bedroom flats would intrude into the historic back garden of a medieval church.

Also in the month, residents blamed water pipes blocking the car park of a busy shopping parade for damaging trade.

Contractors for Affinity Water put twenty large cylinder pipe containers in the parking spaces at the bottom of Shenley Road, Borehamwood, just over a month ago.

But shopkeepers said without anywhere for customers to park, footfall has gone down, and they were now left struggling to make ends meet, especially as they had no idea when the pipes would be moved.