In September, a grandmother described her terror when men barged into her house and threatened her with a screwdriver.

The victim was at home in Arundel Drive in Borehamwood when three men stormed into her house, stealing more than £2,000 in cash.

One of them threatened her with a screwdriver, but the grandmother briefly escaped and called for help, only to be thrown to the floor by the ringleader, badly hurting her hip and shoulder.

Meanwhile, protesters objecting to an "overpowering" 12-storey tower block they feared would "destroy" the town won the chance to air their views at a public meeting.

The meeting was triggered after a petition opposing the construction of Isopad House in Shenley Road in Borehamwood received more than 750 signatures.

Hertsmere Borough Council approved the development in August but residents said they were not properly consulted about the plans, claiming they were unaware of them until after they were approved.

Also in September, curiosity got the better of a cat when she went on a week-long escapade.

When the black and white feline went missing from Welham Close in Borehamwood, her owner Bev Keighrey feared her pet had died.



But a passer-by spotted the kitten on the belfry at St Michael's Church in Brook Road and Borehamwood Fire Brigade rescued her after a two-hour operation.

Later on, a man accused of killing a former soldier who had "hit on his woman" during a drinking session in Borehamwood was cleared of manslaughter.

The jury at St Albans Crown Court found Mark Fagence not guilty of killing Mark Hopkinson, 36, who died in November last year.

When police arrived at the house in Theobald Street belonging to Mr Fagence’s girlfriend Jane Kane, they found him lying on top of Mr Hopkinson.

Mr Hopkinson had suffered from mental health problems and alcoholism and Mr Fagence said he was restraining a man who self-harmed.