As the New Year approaches, read on to reflect on some of the news stories of the year:
13. Three men kidnap and torture innocent person
Three Lancashire men kidnapped and tortured an innocent man, wrongly believing he was an Albanian drug dealer.
The victim, a man in 40s, was getting out of his car after returning home from work when he was attacked by a number of armed men in Darwen on June 13, 2021.
The men – who wrongly accused the victim of being an Albanian drug dealer – bundled him into his own car before driving him to Dove Lane.
Despite realising he was the wrong man, the men continued to threaten the victim by pressing knives into his chest and legs.
Faizaan Fareed (L), Faisal Fareed (M) and Nicholas Shaw (R) were later sentenced to a total of 27 years at Preston Crown Court on October 24. Photo: Lancashire Police
14. 12 fire engines tackle blaze at former Odeon Cinema and Tokyo Jo's nightclub
The blaze in Church Street on May 19 took hours to bring under control, with 12 fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms called in from across Lancashire.
It was one of four incidents of arson in empty city centre buildings in a matter of days - the others were at the former St Joseph's Orphanage in Mount Street, the former British Home Stores premises on Fishergate and a previous fire at the Odeon which was quickly brought under control.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The fire-ravaged building was later demolished. Photo: LFRS
15. Bomb squad called following discovery of 'suspicious package' at Blackpool North railway station
Trains between Preston and Blackpool were halted while the station and nearby businesses were evacuated following the discovery at around 10.10am on July 10.
A bomb disposal team was subsequently called to the station where it is understood an item was found on the trackside close to platform 5.
Talbot Road was shut between Devonshire Road, Cookson Street and Bickerstaffe Square as police put a 100-metre cordon around the area.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a controlled explosion just after 2pm before the traffic restrictions were lifted around an hour later.
In a statement released on July 11, British Transport Police said the explosion had taken place “as a precaution”. Photo: National World
16. Leyland mum and army veteran dies following car crash
Officers attended West Paddock following reports an Audi A1 had left the road and collided with a lamp post before hitting a tree at around 11.20pm on October 12.
The driver of the car - who was later named as 32-year-old Sarah Giffen-Smith from Leyland - was treated at the scene by paramedics before being rescued from the vehicle by fire crews.
Mum-of-two Sarah, an army veteran and trainee Paramedic, was then taken to the Royal Preston Hospital where she sadly died on October 13,
In a tribute, Sarah’s family said: "Sarah was a loving mother of two sons and a daughter and we are all devastated at her premature passing.
"She loved life and she enjoyed it to the full. Following a 10 year career in the Army, Sarah was training to be a Paramedic. She will be terribly missed." Photo: Lancashire Police
17. Four men jailed after ‘vulnerable colleague’ set on fire with blow torch
The victim, aged in his teens, was working as an apprentice at a garage off Weeton Road on June 1, 2021.
During his shift, the teenager – who has autism – was chased into the garage by several men armed with an accelerant.
The men then ignited the accelerant with a blow torch that was aimed at the victim’s legs.
Adam Lavelle (pictured, top left), Michael Jeffrey (top right), Soldon Legdani (bottom left) and Simon Hickinbottom (bottom right) were subsequently jailed. Photo: Lancashire Police
18. Mum-of four killed in fire
Rebecca Downes, 44, died in the early hours of Wednesday, July 6, after a devastating fire ripped through the top floor of her home in Hill Street, South Shore, at 12.50am.
She had managed to escape from the top floor of the building, but died of her injuries at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.
A man in his 50s and three of her children, aged 13, 16 and 26, were also hospitalised.
On July 26, a man was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and taken into custody for questioning.
He was later released under investigation. Photo: Lancashire Police