The new name for Watford’s shopping centre may be announced in the coming weeks – and it has not been ruled out that it could be called the Harlequin.

A spokesman from intu Watford, the current name of town’s shopping mall, has told the Observer that he is hoping to hear of a new name in the next two weeks.

It comes after intu Watford updated its profile picture on social media, which showed the intu name removed on Watford’s shopping mall.

The spokesman confirmed that the image was photoshopped and that new images were being tried.

intu Watford uploaded a new profile picture of Watford's shopping mall without the intu name

But when asked about a new name for the centre, he said there are “a couple of options” for the new name and that he is hoping for it in the next two weeks.

He did not comment when asked if the centre would be renamed the Harlequin.

Read more - intu name removed on Watford's shopping mall, picture shows

intu Watford was taken over by Global Mutual last October, a company managing £4.2 billion of global assets, primarily in retail.

The deal secured the future of the shopping centre after intu Properties plc fell into administration in June with huge debts.

After the takeover, it was announced that the existing name and branding on Watford’s shopping centre was set to stay in place for an "interim period".

Readers have been calling out for intu Watford to be renamed the Harlequin, the original name of Watford’s shopping mall.

A Watford Observer poll found that out of 2,185 readers, some 90 per cent of want the change to be made.

The Harlequin was how the shopping centre was originally known by when it was owned by Capital Shopping Centres from 1992-2013, before the company rebranded itself into intu.

Last year several readers left their opinions on rebranding Watford’s shopping mall the Harlequin – Debbie Attwell said most people still call it that.

She said: “As everyone has said, people never stopped calling it The Harlequin. It makes sense to change it back rather than add another random name.”

Watford resident Denis Kumar agreed, saying: “I lived in Watford for a good seven years, and like the majority here, also think the shopping and leisure complex should get back its name Harlequin.”

Dawn Leatherland said: “To me it will always be called the Harlequin, it don't matter what name they give it, it will always be called the Harlequin to most people that shop and live around the area.”