A "fantastic" 6.5-mile cycling and walking route has officially opened in Watford.

The Green Loop connects the town's urban landscape with open spaces and heritage sites - which is designed to provide an alternative to driving.

Councillors, Watford mayor Peter Taylor, and members of SPOKES and Watford Cycle Hub celebrated the opening by riding through the Cassiobury Park section.

The route can be used as an alternative to driving (Image: Steve Blood)

Mayor Taylor said: "The Green Loop will be an important addition to our local cycle network and it very much fits with our strategy of giving more travel options.

"This was a key manifesto commitment of mine, and I am pleased with the progress we are making. It’s important that we make walking and cycling easier in Watford.

"This will reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, and encourage people to be more active."

The Green Loop connects Watford Junction to Cassiobury Park and can be used for commuting, leisure, or shopping. It uses sections of National Cycle Route 6, Ebury Way, and other cycle paths.

WBC has created a map, flyer, and GPS route planner to help people navigate the loop, which can be found on www.watford.gov.uk/greenloop.

A map of the Green Loop (Image: Supplied) The council also has plans to improve the route with new cycleways, wider footways, and better crossing facilities, which were showcased last year with a virtual reality bike ride.

Walking and cycling will be easier in Watford (Image: Steve Blood) Councillor Ian Stotesbury, portfolio holder for sustainability and transport, said: "The Green Loop is a fantastic new part of our cycling infrastructure across our town and marks the beginning of our wider plans to deliver a range of improvements to tackle congestion.

"The route will help lots of residents in many ways, to commute across the town or to visit some of the beautiful woodland and rivers in our town."

SPOKES Southwest Herts chairperson, Peter Jackson, added: "The Green Loop not only connects key areas of Watford but also encourages more people to adopt cycling as a regular part of their routine.

"It’s a fantastic resource for making active, sustainable travel accessible to everyone in the community."