There can't be a single person in Wirral who won't be glad to see the back of 2020, but it's a year no one will ever forget.

As we turned into the new year 12 months ago, national talk was all about Brexit, but that soon became a side show as Coronavirus hit the UK, with Wirral at the heart of the early news stories.

It's not all been bad of course. There has been some examples of superb generosity and human kindness, showing what is possible in a time of crisis.

Here's a run down of some of the top stories covered in the Globe this year.

January

Woman finds snake in the bath

Wirral Globe:

Officers are used to dealing with some slippery characters, but they were left flabbergasted when they were called to a flat on the Wirral to reports of a snake in the bathroom. 

The 6ft-8ft Boa Constrictor was eventually removed by a member of Merseyside Police, but neither the woman occupant or her neighbour knew where the snake had come from.

100 people returning from coronavirus hit region to be quarantined at Arrowe Park Hospital

Wirral Globe:

The borough was flung into the national spotlight after it was revealed that 100 people returning from Wuhan in China, where there was an outbreak of a health issue called Coronavirus, would be put into two week's quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital.

February

Storm Ciara batters Wirral

Wirral Globe: Photo: Carl HaberlaPhoto: Carl Haberla

A storm with gusts of up to 80mph hammers the Wirral coastline, also causing damage inland. But curious residents can't seem to resist taking risks to get close to the waves in areas like New Brighton and West Kirby.

High school tells ski trip pupils to stay at home if they have coronavirus symptoms

Wirral Globe:

Hilbre High School in West Kirby tells students who went on a half-term skiing trip to Northern Italy to stay away if they have flu-like symptoms, after it emerges that there is an outbreak of Coronavirus in the area.

March

Man, 78, dies from coronavirus at Arrowe Park Hospital

Wirral Globe: Arrowe Park HospitalArrowe Park Hospital

Wirral University Teaching Hospital confirms that a 78-year-old patient who tested positive for coronavirus has died. At this point 10 people had tested positive for the virus in Wirral.

Streets deserted as UK goes into lockdown

Wirral Globe: The usually busy Croft Retail Park in Bromborough is emptyThe usually busy Croft Retail Park in Bromborough is empty

Wirral's towns and villages remain largely deserted as the public plays its role in preventing the spread of coronavirus.

Parts of the borough resemble ghost towns as residents followed orders to stay at home and respect social distancing guidelines.

April

Dedicated Wirral nurse dies from coronavirus

Wirral Globe: Julie Anna PenfoldJulie Anna Penfold

Heartfelt tributes were paid to Wirral University Teaching Hospital staff nurse, Julie Anna Penfold, who passed away as a result of COVID-19 while on a career break.

She would receive a guard of honour from staff outside the hospital before her funeral took place.

Resident runs convenience store for delighted locals

Wirral Globe:

A woman who left flowers outside her house for people to take to the nearby cemetery during lockdown ends up running a full-blown stall on her front drive, giving people who didn't want to go near shops in the Bromborough and Eastham area an outdoor alternative.

Numerous similar DIY outlets appear across the borough.

May

Council make New Brighton's King's Parade 'exercise zone'

Wirral Globe:

One lane of King's Parade in New Brighton is closed and turned into an exercise lane as the local authority looks for ways to help people stay fit during lockdown.

Pub fined for serving pints during lockdown

Wirral Globe:

A pub in Port Sunlight becomes the first in Wirral to be served a prohibition notice after it was found to be in breach of the coronavirus restrictions.

June

McDonald's drive-thru shooting

Wirral Globe:

A man is shot at the McDonald's drive-thru in Bromborough, prompting a major police investigation, which subsequently leads to an arrest.

Misery for children after school announces closure

Wirral Globe:

Independent Kingsmead School, in Hoylake, sends a letter to parents advising that the private school, which has been in existence since 1904, will shut permanently next month.

July

Giant moth found in Wirral living room

Wirral Globe:

A couple in Thingwall are given a big fright after discovering a giant moth in their home. 

Justin Williams, Hon. Sec. Lancashire & Cheshire Entomological Society, said: "This is a Poplar Hawkmoth. It's one of the commoner hawkmoth species in the UK, and is found all over the Wirral and Cheshire - although it's not often seen by the general public."

Woman dies after rescue from river off New Brighton

Wirral Globe:

A woman in her 50s tragically dies after being rescued from the coastline off New Brighton after going into the water after her dog. The dog survived.

August

Row errupts over treatment of Hoylake beach

Wirral Globe:

Wirral Council’s environment committee debates the decision of Labour councillor Liz Grey, the authority’s cabinet member for the environment, to stop raking and spraying Hoylake beach.

It divides opinion between people who want the beach to evolve naturally and those who favour golden sands.

First Wirral hospital coronavirus death for seven weeks

Wirral Globe:

After Covid case rates have dropped, they start to rise again and Wirral University Teaching Hospital's first Covid fatality in seven weeks is confirmed, taking the running death toll at the trust to 239.

September

Wirral put under local lockdown measures

Wirral Globe:

After national lockdown restrictions had been lifted leading into the summer, Wirral is placed under local messures, with rising case rates making it an 'area of intervention' for the Government.

Tributes paid to Wirral rugby coach

Wirral Globe: Brendan BaileyBrendan Bailey

A dedicated local rugby coach who pioneered woman's touch rugby sessions passes away.

Tributes are paid to Wirral RFU's Brendan Bailey from Spital, who died at the age of 74.

October

New 'Tier 3' lockdown restrictions confirmed for Wirral​

Wirral Globe:

With Covid case rates rising across the country, the government launches a new three tier alert system, with Wirral and the Liverpool City Region put straight into Tier 3 - the highest level of risk to the virus.

Wirral gyms open for business despite tier three rules

Wirral Globe: Empowered gym by Arrowe Park Hospital has opened today despite tier 3 restrictions now being active. Photo: Richard Garnett

Despite the new Tier 3 ruling stating that gyms must close, a number of indepedents open on the first day of restrictions in Wirral anyway, attracting national publicity.

November

Mass rapid testing for Covid-19 rolled out in Wirral

Wirral Globe:

After a successful pilot in Liverpool, mass asymptomatic Coronavirus testing is rolled out in Wirral. The uptake is a success and along with a lowering case rate, sees the Liverpool City Region moved into Tier 2 of the Covid alert system before the end of the month.

Christmas lights on early in street to help Wirral Hospice

Wirral Globe:

A street in Oxton is lit up like Blackpool promenade as residents use the spectacle to help raise vital funds for Wirral Hospice St John's.

December

Health Centres in Wirral start to deliver Covid vaccination

Wirral Globe:

A Birkenhead medical centre selected to be part of the first GP-led rollout of the coronavirus vaccine delivers the jab to over 975 people in the first week.

Wirral back in Tier 3 as rates rise

The borough stays in Tier 2 over Christmas but goes back into Tier 3 on New Year's Eve with new case rates of the virus rocketing amid fears of a new more infectious strain of Covid-19.

There are no mainland areas of England in tiers 1 and 2 heading into 2021.