As another Christmas Day rolls around we’d like to send festive best wishes to all our readers.

It feels like Preston is very much in transition at the moment, with major projects on the go including Animate, Harris Your Place, and – the hopefully soon to be complete – Transforming Friargate North and Ringway. The redevelopment will continue throughout 2024, and the city is set to look different again by 2025.

Here at Blog Preston it’s not too dissimilar a situation in terms of changes.

This year we waved a fond farewell to our student reporter Amna as she spread her wings for London. We welcomed back our former student reporter and now accomplished freelancer Charlotte, and created a brand new community journalism intern role, which has been filled by the very promising Sophie. I (Kate) changed my day job working pattern to have more Blog Preston time – some of that has been spent making exciting plans for 2024, our 15th anniversary year, so watch out for more on that soon.

Reflecting on 2023, and the highlight for Team BP was undoubtedly being part of the second Big PNE Sleep Out. Ed and I joined more than 150 people bedding down in extremely rainy conditions to raise £36,000 for The Foxton Centre. Our target was £50,000, and it’s not too late if you would like to donate via the Big PNE Sleep Out JustGiving page.

Other stand out moments for the city came when The Ferret secured its future, Lancashire Photography Festival hit the city’s streets, and Edith Rigby Way finally opened. Our Proud Preston section was once again packed with inspirational stories of kindness, courage and creativity.

We continue to enjoy the work of our much-valued regular contributors, so big thanks to them. History buff Geoff’s most viewed article revealed Preston Station’s secret World War I underground platform and stables, food critic Karen’s review about bland, brown and grey at a Whitestake carvery was particularly popular, while culture vulture Lisa scooped an exclusive on the Chew’s Yard Christmas pop up.

Thank you also to our advertisers for their support: Preston Business Improvement District, Preston City Council, Lancashire Encounter, Pro-Fit Gyms, Anwyl Homes, Legal and General Homes, Barton Manor Hotel, Caritas Care and Brownedge Primary School. More thanks goes to WNJ accountants, Clook web hosting and Society1 for their ongoing support and services.

The biggest thank you of all is saved for the 1.6m people who helped us reach 6 million page views on the website this year, plus our 50,000 Facebook, 26,000 X and 13,000 Instagram followers. Your clicks, shares and tip offs help make Blog Preston what it is.

So from all of Team BP, we hope you have a lovely Christmas. And if Christmas is a hard time for you, then we hope you have a peaceful one.

Kate, Ed, Charlotte B, Dave, Charlotte E, Sophie, Lisa, Geoff, Karen, and all our contributors.

If you need someone to talk to this Christmas, Samaritans will listen. You can call 116 123, or find other ways to contact them on the Samaritans website.