Leaders of key public, private and voluntary sector organisations in Hertfordshire have joined together to discuss some of the biggest issues affecting the county.

Obesity, crime and unemployment were some of the topics debated at a State of Hertfordshire conference on Friday, January 20.

Robert Gordon, leader of the council, Andy Bliss, the chief constable and Raymond Jankowski, deputy director of public health, were among speakers at the Hertfordshire County Council run event.

The group gathered in an attempt to consider how different parts of the community could work together to tackle some of the county’s biggest problems.

Hertfordshire County Council’s leader, Robert Gordon, said: “It is only through partnership working that we can achieve genuine improvements in the lives of our residents.

“We all know how hard it is to feel happy and healthy without a job, or how difficult it is to build safe, strong communities when families are struggling to bring up their children healthily and happily. "I know that all of the agencies represented here today are determined to continue to work together in innovative and effective ways, for the residents of Hertfordshire."