AS 2020 finally draws to a close (good riddance) we are running through our most-read stories of the year gone by.
January
Workers shouldn't risk safety removing dead animal from river
The most-read story in the first month of the year was about a dead animal on the banks of the river Wye in Hereford which could not be removed.
Charity Hereford and Worcester Animal Rescue said the carcass, next to the popular walking route through Bishops Meadows, said it was first believed to be a dog, but was later identified as a calf.
"We went down there in the dark but couldn't retrieve it," said Dawn Turner, of the animal rescue charity.
"Because the river levels have dropped, it's now exposed. Balfour Beatty gave an update on Thursday and said it wasn't a dog, but it was a calf that had probably been swept away from somewhere.
"We got involved because we thought it was a dog, and everything that could've been done was done."
Workers were unable to remove the animal and it's thought they will be unable to do so due where the calf is on the river bank, as well as its condition.
February
Storm Dennis: Major incident declared in Herefordshire
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the huge impact of the month's heavy rain and flooding dominated the headlines.
Our 24-hour live blogs covered Storm Dennis hitting the county, with widespread flooding of roads, houses and business.
Herefordshire Council declared a major and many routes across the county have been closed, with most roads in and out of Hereford city impassable on February 17.
March
Coronavirus: Confirmed case in Herefordshire
Many of us probably wish March was just a bad dream, and again it's another unsurprising story topping the charts.
Just 298 days ago the first coronavirus case was confirmed in Herefordshire. Since then, thousands more have tested positive and more than 150 have had Covid-19 on their death certificate.
When Herefordshire's first case was confirmed on March 11, just 498 other people in the UK had tested positive.
The first lockdown was still more than a week away, and working from home and the furlough scheme were also still futuristic ideas for many.
April
Revealed: New opening hours for Asda, Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Iceland
Supermarkets started to get back on their feet after the initial pandemonium caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
By the beginning of April, most stores had got back to offering fully stocked fresh produce and only had a few holes left to fill.
However, the maximum limit of three items per customer remained across most stores nationwide.
Shops implemented a one person per household rule, but this did not apply to vulnerable people and carers, or parents with children.
Stores had introduced new opening times, and Tesco brought an end to 24-hour shopping across the country to allow for restocking.
May
Monty Don's tribute to beloved golden retriever Nigel
Into May and it was a desperately sad story which was most read.
Herefordshire gardener Monty Don has said his family had "a great big Nigel-shaped hole" in their lives after the death of their golden retriever.
His pet became the surprise star of BBC Two's Gardeners' World, receiving his own fan mail, social media fan accounts and lent his name to Don's book Nigel: My Family And Other Dogs.
In May, the presenter revealed Nigel had died after he was taken ill and was buried with "lots of tennis balls" at Longmeadow, near Leominster.
Don told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that Nigel had been more than a companion and had helped him with his struggles with depression.
June
DVLA announces important changes on driving licences set to expire
The DVLA confirmed in June that drivers with a photocard driving licence due to expire between February 1 and August 31, 2020 will be granted a seven-month extension from the date of expiry.
The announcement on June 4 aimed to help drivers to make necessary journeys without having to get a new photograph to renew their licence.
Normally, drivers are required to renew their photocard licence every 10 years, and bus and lorry drivers every five years.
July
Coronavirus outbreak confirmed at Herefordshire farm
The most-read story of the year came in July when more than 70 cases of coronavirus cases were confirmed at a Herefordshire vegetable farm.
Public health officials said there had been an outbreak amongst more than 200 seasonal workers living there, with cases later rising to 134.
Herefordshire Council's Director of Public Health said an outbreak of the kind was not unexpected, but was the first in the county so far – and the first in the UK.
The outbreak at the farm, AS Green and Co in Mathon, near Ledbury, dominated national headlines, but Public Health England praised a "swift response" by the owners which stopped the virus spreading into the community.
August
Tears of despair as Covid kills a quarter of residents at Hereford care home
A really heartbreaking story was one of the most-read in August, where a quarter of residents at one care home had been killed by coronavirus.
The manager at Stretton Nursing Home in Burghill told of the "devastation and tears" as staff watched loved residents die when the home was "engulfed" by coronavirus.
Despite all the hard work and dedication of staff, which was praised by manager Beverley Anderson, 12 of the 40 residents died as the virus ripped through.
“It was the most horrific thing I have witnessed. It was soul destroying. You cannot imagine the strain and the days and days that we cried,” said Registered Manager Beverley Anderson.
“It was mayhem. Some residents would be getting better and then suddenly go downhill and within 24 hours they had gone.
“Some you thought were strong enough to get through it, but they didn’t."
September
Council reacts to Richard Hammond's plans for Herefordshire castle
Former BBC Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond's plans to build a new barn at his Herefordshire castle did not met any resistance from the parish council, and have since been passed by Herefordshire Council.
Mr Hammond wants to build a new barn to keep his collection of cars, as well as tractors, at Bollitree Castle in Weston-under-Penyard, near Ross-on-Wye.
The sprawling country estate had been targeted by criminals who stole tractor parts, which left the motoring journalist wanting to demolish a stable block in order to build a new one, as well as a storage barn.
Weston-under-Penyard Parish Council reviewed the application with the neighbourhood development plan in mind, but had no objection to plans which could see secure parking area created for 10 to 11 cars and motorbikes at the six-bedroom castle reportedly bought for £2million.
Plans submitted to Herefordshire Council show Mr Hammond, who moved from the BBC to Amazon in 2016 to present The Grand Tour, show walls would be timber clad, and building would have profiled sheet roofing.
October
Revealed: The least and most deprived neighbourhoods in Hereford
Into the autumn and a report published by Herefordshire Council revealed Hereford had one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the UK, according to the statistics on deprivation.
The figures showed there were 18,500 people living in deprived households across the county – about a tenth of the population.
There were 11 places in Herefordshire that were within in the 25 per cent most deprived nationally, which featured in The Indices of Deprivation 2019 report published by Herefordshire Council.
The most deprived are south of Hereford and in Leominster, Ross-on-Wye and Bromyard.
Golden Post-Newton Farm in Hereford is the most deprived area in the county and is the only one to be in the 10 per cent most deprived nationally.
November
Hereford nurse accused of murdering babies appears in court
A nurse accused of the murders of eight babies in an alleged year-long killing spree at a hospital neonatal unit appeared in the dock of a courtroom for the first time.
Lucy Letby, 30 of Arran Avenue, Hereford, is alleged to have murdered five baby boys and three baby girls while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital.
She is also accused of the attempted murder of five baby boys and five baby girls, all between June 2015 and June 1016.
Letby appeared via videolink at Warrington Magistrates’ Court on November 12.
The day after, she appeared in the dock for the first time in person at Chester Crown Court.
She will appear in court again in February.
December
River Lugg: Farmer says he will 'pull the authorities apart' if taken to court
Last, but certainly not least, top of the charts last month was Kingsland farmer John Price saying he will “pull the authorities apart” if they take him to court for the work he did to the river Lugg.
He was speaking after a huge local and national row broke out after pictures were published showing a bank of the river bulldozed clear of vegetation.
Herefordshire Wildlife Trust said an “enchanting” reach of the river and its banks had been straightened and reprofiled into a sterile canal, with wildlife habitats obliterated.
But Mr Price, who is 66, says he has looked after the river all his life and was only doing a job he was told to do.
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