Hertford town centre has gone "Scarecrow Mad" with a Scarecrow Trail from Saturday 29th May to Sunday 6th June.

Shops and businesses are displaying scarecrows in their windows throughout the school half-term week. Visitors can pop into the museum or the Tourist Information Centre and buy a Scarecrow Trail question sheet for £1 and then look for the scarecrows around the town.   There will be prizes for those who answer the most questions correctly, and a prize for the most popular scarecrow.

The idea was thought up by the committee of the Friends of Hertford Museum who are always fundraising to help the museum.  This time, it's to help towards the remaining amount needed for the development project which is roughly £18,000.

Hertford residents are once again being encouraged to explore their town in search of the perfect picture for a Hertford Calendar.

For the second year running the Town Council-run Hertford Town and Tourist Information Centre is holding a photographic competition to uncover the best images of the town for a calendar, with the theme ‘Hertford and its people'.

The closing date of the competition is 16 July 2010, after which 13 photographs will be selected for inclusion - one for each month, and one for the cover of the calendar.

Photographs must be submitted with an entry form, available from the Tourist Information Centre in Market Place or on the Town Council's website.

Hertford's new mayor is Cllr.Brenda Haddock, who takes over from Cllr.David Poole.

Mrs.Haddock has lived in Hertford for 30 years and was elected to the council in 2007. Her chosen charities for the mayoral year are  the Hertfordshire Young Carers Project and the Macmillian cancer charity.

Her deputy will be Peter Ruffles, who himself has twice been major.

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a robbery in Maidenhead Street last Thursday, 20th May.

The incident took place around 9.20pm when a man was approached by two men near the former Woolworths store. One of the men assaulted the man and removed a bank card and some cash from his jeans’ pocket.

The first offender was described as white, in his early twenties, between 5ft 10 and 6ft tall with short, dark brown hair. He was also reported to be wearing a black t-shirt and dark trousers. The second offender was described as a white man of heavy build.

Investigating officer PC Richard Gumbrill said: "The victim was understandably shaken by the incident, although fortunately unharmed. I am appealing for any witnesses who may have been in the area at the time the incident took place to get in touch. In particular, I would like to speak to two women who the victim believes he saw in the area just before the incident occurred."

Anyone with information can contact PC Gumbrill on the non-emergency number 0845 33 00 222 citing crime reference number A1/10/1506.

East Herts District Council have approved a £1m budget for a major refurbishment of Castle Hall.

A meeting of the Council Executive Committee earlier in the month approved the plans, which include a new entrance, foyer, bar and box office, gallery space, refurbished River Room and new studio space.

The hall will also be renamed the Hertford Theatre and employ a full-time technical staff. The bar will also be open full-time.

A ten year business plan has also been formulated.

The hall closed last month and it is hoped work will commence shortly with the hall re-opening in early December.

Hair stylist Maxim Porcaro have moved premises to Cowbridge from their former Fore Street site.

The business formerly occupied a shop in Fore Street neighbouring two other ladies hairdressers. They have now moved next to a gents hairdressers opposite Hartham Lane.

Hertford Dramatic and Operatic Society's Young Idea are performing Wind In The Willows at Sele School this week.

The production opens tonight and runs until Saturday, with performances every night at 7:30 and a matinee on Saturday at 3:00pm.

Tickets are £8.50 and are available on 01992 586411.

Police are appealling for witnesses after a woman had her bag stolen on Tuesday morning.

The incident occurred at 9am in Stanstead Road when the victims’s bag was snatched from her shoulder by a man on a mountain bike. He then rode off with the bag, which contained cash and an iPod, down the hill towards the Ware Road.

The man was described as white, aged 25, riding a red mountain bike, which was said to be old and muddy.

If you have any information, please contact police via the non-emergency number, 0845 33 00 222.

You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Hertbeat FM is dropping it's name and most of it's presenters.

From 8am tommorrow the station will be branded as 106 Jack FM, taking on the Jack format which features virtually no live presenters and a larger and more varied playlist.

The only live show to remain on the station will be Steve Folland's breakfast show.

MD Brett Harley said: "The feedback from listeners and advertisers gets better and better - however, the radio market in the south-east is full of Heart stations - and being Hertbeat we were often being grouped in the same category.

"So we decided to look at other names for the station. Leicester Sound, Rugby FM and BBC Leeds were all taken - so we picked 'Jack FM'."

The local station was founded by Robbie Owen in 2000 and taken over by Shadow Holdings in 2005.

The Jack format was devised in the US in 2000 and there are currently two other Jack branded stations in the UK - in Oxford and Bristol.

There are two Open Days taking place in the town today.

Hertford Castle open their doors to the public, with exhibits, a town twinning showcase, Town Council regalia and gifts on display. Falconry displays will take place at noon and 2.30pm, plus the Standon Morris Men. There are also childrens' activities and competitions inside and out.

At Bayfordbury House, the Clinton-Baker Pinetumand University of Hertfordshire Observatory are both open today. Visitors may go on woodland walks through the Pinetum or join a conducted tour. You will also be able to see one of the finest teaching observatories in the country.