Jam’s garden and Kenny Baker

This year has been a jam-packed one in terms of news about the city and surrounding area.

We’ve taken a look at the most shared stories on Blog Preston in the past 12 months.

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This means you’ve decided to tweet these stories, share them on Facebook or for the more obscure amongst you – Google Plus.

Here’s what got Preston talking with these stories seeing thousands of shares on social media.

IKEA

IKEA has long held ambitions of opening in Preston Pic: Toshihiro Oimatsu

Nothing seems to generate discussion like the plans being unveiled for the Swedish furniture giant to build one of their largest UK stores.

Anchoring the Cuerden development the plans were unveiled in November and the wait for meatballs has now begun.

There’s a long way to go before the Cuerden development happens, if indeed it does, but IKEA has the flat-pack ready.

Fishergate bus lane

This map, released by the county council, explains the new layout

Lancashire County Council and the drivers of Preston are locked in a battle of bus lanes, one-way diversions and new schemes.

This piece with a map explaining how the new layout works, and how to avoid the £60 fine, became the bible for drives in the city.

But it clearly didn’t reach enough motorists as thousands each week have been breaking the 11am-6pm bus lane and notching up a healthy boost in the county council’s finances.

The county council has now announced the bus lanes are being removed, but may return during Christmas 2017.

Jam’s garden

A view of Jam’s garden

Another long-running saga, Jam’s garden near the university saw him threatened with a prison sentence for not removing the garden he had created – despite breaking Community Gateway’s rules.

Prestonians were not impressed with the law and so called on Preston MPs and others to get involved and help Jam to keep his creation – which had been featured on a Channel 4 show about amazing council houses – in tact.

Syrian refugees

A young mother crosses the border from Syria and becomes a refugee. She carries her one-month-old son, Hamid. “Since he was born there has been non-stop bombing every day.” Pic: UNCHF

The compassion of Lancashire and the fact it is taking in MORE Syrian refugees than any other council in England generated a lot of debate.

But it also underlined how Preston, as a city, is a welcoming place – and many of you decided to share the news as a way of showing your solidarity with what is happening in Syria.

Fleece Inn raid

A quiet Sunday evening Bank Holiday drink back in May turned into a terrifying night for staff at a Penwortham pub.

The police helicopter and armed response units were scrambled after a man entered the staff room and pointed a gun at a staff member before making off with the takings. A man hunt was then launched but the offender is still thought to be at large.

Christmas Day kindness

A recent tale about the Egyptian restaurant Lola in London Road offering free food to the lonely and the homeless on Christmas Day caught your attention.

Thousands of you shared the gesture of goodwill and it seemed to restore a little bit of faith in humanity.

Farewell Kenny

Kenny Baker

One of Preston’s most famous residents passed away, Kenny Baker. He played R2-D2 in Star Wars and lived quietly in a bungalow in Ashton.

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We’ll miss you Kenny. 2016 has taken many of the world’s best loved celebs.

Which stories stick in your memory from the year? Let us know in the comments below