IT'S been an eventful year for Bromsgrovians, with thousands of readers visiting the Bromsgrove Advertiser site to keep up-to-date on the town's latest news.
These monthly 'most read' stories provide a snapshot of what has happened in Bromsgrove in 2016, from tragedies to police investigations, to one nearby village winning the funniest place name in Britain.
Here are the stories behind some of the most popular online articles this year.
JANUARY
£1million cannabis farm found in Bromsgrove business park
POLICE raided a property in the Buntsford Hill Business Park on January 29 and discovered more than £1million worth of cannabis.
Read the full story here.
FEBRUARY
Firefighters battle Market Street blaze for two hours
A LARGE fire near a doctor's surgery in Bromsgrove's town centre took firefighters two hours to extinguish.
Read the full story here.
MARCH
PE teacher banned over inappropriate messages to pupils
A FORMER PE teacher at a school in Bromsgrove was banned from teaching after sending inappropriate texts and emails to pupils.
Gareth George, 30, appeared in front of a disciplinary professional conduct panel on February 15 for breaching professional boundaries.
Read the full story here.
APRIL
Family pay tribute to Bromsgrove cyclist Michael Thompson
THE heartbroken family of a Bromsgrove cyclist who died in a crash with a lorry described him as "one in a million".
Michael Thompson, aged 65, died when his bike collided with a white DAF lorry on March 31.
Read the full story here.
MAY
Bell End voted Britain's funniest place name
BELL End beat Brown Willy and Boggy Bottom to the top spot in a list of Britain's funniest place names.
More than 36 per cent of voters thought the village was the funniest of the lot, placing it above Fanny Hands Lane in Lincolnshire and Sandy Balls in Hampshire.
Read the full story here.
JUNE
Elderly man in critical condition after crash between car and mobility scooter
A MAN in his 90s was in a critical condition in hospital after his mobility scooter crashed with a Volkswagen Polo on the A38 on June 9.
The crash occurred near to the KFC on the junction with Stoke Road and Charford Road in Bromsgrove.
Read the full story here.
JULY
Women robbed at Lickey Hills while out with children
TWO women were robbed by possibly-armed men, while out at the Lickey Hills Country Park with their children on July 1.
Read the full story here.
AUGUST (and our most read story of the year!)
Love 2 Love nightclub to close its doors for the final time
BROMSGROVE's beloved Love 2 Love nightclub closed its doors for the final time, to make way for a new bar.
Former police officer Mike Taylor bought the Worcester Road venue at the start of the year, with big plans to rebrand and refurbish the club and rejuvenate the town's nightlife.
Read the full story here.
SEPTEMBER
HUGE wax plant fire engulfs Stoke Prior in smoke
A HUGE fire erupted at a wax recycling plant on Saxon Business Park in Stoke Prior on September 19, requiring 65 firefighters to extinguish.
Clouds of black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from miles around, and could reportedly be spotted from Birmingham city centre.
Read the full story here.
OCTOBER
Two high street giants returning to town centre
IN the same week that Shoe Zone was set to reopen in Bromsgrove, it was announced that Superdrug would be returning to the high street.
Read the full story here.
NOVEMBER
Lorry driver sentenced for causing death of Michael Thompson
A 56-YEAR-OLD lorry driver was sentenced for causing the death of beloved Bromsgrove man Michael Thompson.
On November 11, Mark Andrew Smithdale pleaded guilty at Hereford Crown Court to causing death by inconsiderate driving.
Read the full story here.
DECEMBER
"Unclean" Bromsgrove nursing home rated 'inadequate' in surprise inspection
A NURSING home in Bromsgrove was put into special measures after a surprise CQC inspection found that elderly residents were "at risk of injury" and infections.
Furniture, crockery and food trolleys were seen to be "dirty" and the report describes toilet frames and seats "soiled with brown matter and urine".
Read the full story here.
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