AS 2020 finally draws to a close (good riddance) we are running through our most read stories of the year gone by.  Here is part 1: January to July

JANUARY

'Tributes after young man dies in fall at city bar'

January’s most-read story was the tragic story of a young man who lost his life after a fall at a bar in Worcester.

James Acheson-Hill was killed by the accidental fall at Heroes in Friar Street shortly after 10pm on Saturday, January 18. This story was viewed 42,196 times.

FEBRUARY

'Flood updates for Worcestershire as Storm Dennis hits'

Unsurprisingly, it was February’s floods that dominated the headlines that month. Our live-blog of flood updates was viewed 248,315 times after flooding devastated the county.

Residents in Worcester, Powick and Upton were forced to leave their homes as water levels rose, with roads closed across Worcestershire.

MARCH

'Gtech not awarded ventilator contract by government'

March saw the start of the coronavirus pandemic, with the country going into lockdown. That month’s most read story, viewed more than 179,000 times, was of Worcester firm Gtech not being awarded a government contract to make ventilators for Covid-19 patients.

Nick Grey, chief executive of Gtech, said he had been advised by the government on March 27 to not push forward with production of ventilators, despite answering a call for help to assist in producing more than 30,000 ventilators.

APRIL

'Worcester man dies after motorcycle crash in Droitwich'

April’s most-read story was the sad story of Worcester man Marlon Vella, who died in a crash in Primsland Way in

Droitwich after his motorbike collided with a tree.

He was a popular figure who owned Vella Cutz in Fernhill Heath, and Worcester News readers paid tribute to their friend, calling him a “happy-go-lucky bloke” This story was read 66,913 times.

MAY

'Man found dead in woodland in Worcester'

May’s most-read story was another tragic death as a young man’s body was found in woodland near Worcester.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: “At around 5.20pm yesterday (May 3) we were called to a wooded area near Newtown Road, Worcester.

“Sadly a man, believed to be a 23-year-old local man, was found deceased. His next of kin and the coroner have been informed. His death is not being treated as suspicious.” This story was read 58,072 times.

JUNE

'Which Worcester postcodes have had the most coronavirus deaths?'

By the time June rolled around, most of us had been working from home, hosting Zoom quizzes and remaining indoors for most of the year.

Our most-read story, with more than 30,000 views, was a breakdown of which Worcester post-codes had, at that stage, been most affected by coronavirus.

JULY

'Worcestershire Royal Hospital worker found dead'

July’s most-read story was that of a Worker at Worcestershire Royal Hospital who was found dead.

The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust announced there was a “tragic incident” on Saturday, July 4, where a man was found dead at around 8.35pm.

This story was read more than 30,000 times.

Keep following the Worcester News to see part two of our run-down of the year.