We have been looking back through the Watford Observer archives and here are some of the stories that were making the headlines ten and five years ago this week.

FIVE YEARS AGO

Prince William lands air ambulance in Watford

Prince William was one of the air ambulance crew members called to Watford after an ambulance and car collided.

The helicopter pilot joined the East Anglian Air Ambulance as they responded to the incident on Watford Road at around 10am.

One person is in a critical condition and three others were injured in the collision involving a car and an ambulance responding to an emergency call.

No patient was on board at the time but two ambulance staff and two members of the public were taken to hospital.

'Masterplan' for Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden

Hillingdon Times:

Hopes to be able to produce an entire film at an expanded Leavesden site have been voiced by the man in charge of film making at Warner Bros. Studios – and people living nearby will not even notice.

The film production giant’s UK branch has proposed a “masterplan” development of the site which will accommodate all the facilities film producers could ever want.

The company’s plans were received by Three Rivers District Council on September 10 and includes the construction of additional sound stages, workshops, a multi-storey car park for employees and a state of the art graphics and design space.

Dan Dark, senior vice president and managing director of the company, said: “I’d like to think we will be in a position in the future to pretty much provide all the requirements for a production on the lot – take them right the way through from the conception to delivery of a production.”

Spice up your life in 2016 with new exhibition at the Watford Colosseum

Hillingdon Times:

Next year marks 20-years since the Spice Girls released their hit single, Wannabe.

To celebrate the milestone, a special exhibition dedicated to the Girl Power group will be hosted in Ginger Spice - a.k.a Geri Halliwell's - hometown of Watford.

Spiceworld: The Exhibition will be in place at the Watford Colosseumfrom July 2016 and will celebrate the story of how Sporty, Baby, Scary, Ginger and Posh became the most successful girl group of all time.

The basis for the exhibition is the Guinness World Record-breaking collection of artist and curator Liz West, who is the foremost collector of Spice Girls memorabilia and merchandise in the world.

TEN YEARS AGO

First glimpse of new look High Street

Hillingdon Times:

The first glimpse of how 42 new apartments will fit into Rickmansworth High Street has been released by the developer, as demolition of the old office building gets under way.

The removal of the old office block at 3 and 3a High Street has started today, after Three Rivers District Council granted planning permission for the scheme at a meeting last Thursday.

Construction of the 28 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom sheltered apartments for the elderly will start in November, and Churchill Retirement Living expects the first occupants to move in a year later.

Taylor to receive award at Hall of Fame dinner

Hillingdon Times:

Photo: Action Images

The National Football Museum will honour Watford legend Graham Taylor at their Hall of Fame dinner.

Taylor, who is the Hornets’ most successful manager of all time and is currently the club’s chairman, is set to receive the Football Foundation Community Champion Award for his outstanding work in the community and with various charities.

Past winners include former Wimbledon midfielder Robbie Earle and Sunderland striker Niall Quinn.

Police: Bomb hoaxers 'will be dealt with'

Hillingdon Times:

Police have vowed to catch those responsible for the bomb hoax inside a Watford pub, describing it as an “unbelievably mindless act”.

Officers raced to The Flag, in Station Road, following the discovery of a suspicious package found inside the men's toilet at about 6pm.

The area was evacuated and road closures put in place, before the Royal Logistics Corps bomb disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion of the device.

Nearby Watford Junction station was also cleared and trains were stopped for about 20 minutes.

The area remained cordoned off until police were satisfied the package was not a bomb.