Detectives are appealing for witnesses and information as part of an attempted murder investigation, after a woman aged in her 80s was found on fire in Watford.

At 12.47pm on Monday 9 November, a call was made to police reporting that the woman had been found in a first-floor communal area of a block of flats in Caractacus Cottage View.

She sustained significant injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment where she remains in a critical condition.

Detective Inspector Adam Bridges, from the Major Crime Unit, who is leading the investigation, said: “Our thoughts remain with the woman and her family, who are being supported by specially trained officers during this extremely distressing time.

“Detectives are currently working at pace to establish how the woman came to sustain her injuries and are currently treating the incident as attempted murder.

“We’re asking anyone with information which may assist us to please come forward.

“Did you witness any suspicious activity around the time or see anyone leaving the area?

“We’re also keen to hear from anyone who may have captured any dash cam or CCTV footage from the vicinity.

“If you have any information at all, please contact us straightaway.

“We appreciate the incident will also have an impact on the wider community. If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to approach officers in the area.”

You can report information online at herts.police.uk/report, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat at herts.police.uk/contact or call the non-emergency number 101, quoting crime reference ISR 305 of 9 November, 2026.

Alternatively, you can stay 100% anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.