December 31, 2011 8.00 am This story is over 147 months old

Rewind: Top 10 most read stories of 2011

What a year!: The Lincolnite revisits the most read news stories and topics of 2011.

Lincoln had a bumper year in 2011, and The Lincolnite covered more than 1,400 stories from across the city over the past 12 months.

We now revisit the most read news stories and topics of 2011.

Top Gear’s electric breakdown in Lincoln

Presenters of BBC show Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson and James May, stopped by in Lincoln in May when the electric cars they were testing for the latest series of the show ran out of battery charge. The duo spent the afternoon in the city while their cars recharged at the University of Lincoln, as their impromptu visit revealed the county had virtually no public electric car charging points.

The episode featuring Lincoln was aired in July and prompted Nissan to promise to install a charging point in Lincoln, while at the same time saying the presenters’ breakdown in the city was intentional. Nissan didn’t keep its promise for the charging point, as the City of Lincoln was the first to open a public charging point in December in the Lucy Tower car park.

Tokyo refreshes Lincoln’s night life

The revamp of the Constitutional Club on Silver Street brought back Lincoln onto the night life map, as Tokyo Industries invested £1.5 million to turn the building into a 900-capacity night club. After 15 years as a derelict property, the building re-opened its doors at the end of August, and acts performing since included Calvin Harris, Katy B, Chase & Status and Pendulum.

Double Red Arrows tragedy

Lincolnshire was in shock in August, when Red Arrows pilot Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging (33) died after his Hawk T1 aircraft (Red 4) crashed following a display at Bournemouth Air Festival. Hundred attended Egging’s memorial at Lincoln Cathedral in October and days later the Reds were hit by another tragedy, as 34-year-old Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham (Red 5) died in hospital after an incident at RAF Scampton, when his ejector seat fired whilst the aircraft was still on the ground. Cunningham’s memorial was held in December at Coventry Cathedral.

Students welcomed to their bunk cabins

The University of Lincoln had to install twin bunk cabins, dubbed Festival Gardens, for an overspill of up to 200 first-year students who came to study in the city without permanent accommodation arrangements in September. A second site with bunk cabins was later installed to give students single occupancy, and by the end of October, both sites were dismantled and students moved into permanent accommodation.

Recycling plant fire engulfs city in smoke

Lincoln was engulfed in thick, black smoke on a warm June afternoon, as a fire broke out at European Metal Recycling on Beevor Street. The smoke was visible from miles away, but the blaze was not a threat to the public, as the smoke was black due to the nature of the materials burning.

Boyfriend kills himself after murdering girlfriend

A 26-year-old man took his own life after murdering his 21-year-old girlfriend in North Hykeham in April. Katy Winchester, who was studying at Manchester Metropolitan University and originally from the Sleaford area, died of compression of the neck, and Kurt Tyrell strangled himself.

Man dies hit by police car on Carholme Road

A 28-year-old man died after he was hit by a police car on Carholme Road in March. Matthew David Tuffin died in hospital from sustaining serious injuries. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) are still investigating.

Stormfront seeds apples in Lincoln

Lincoln got all excited at the news that premium Apple reseller Stormfront will open a store in the Waterside Shopping Centre. The franchise store opened on December 17 and spares residents a trip to Sheffield or Leicester to get their Apple gear serviced.

Steep Hill makes Lincoln proud

Steep Hill in Lincoln has been named the best street in Britain for 2012 by the Academy of Urbanism in November. Dating to Roman times as a connection between the Castle and town, Steep Hill is a narrow street characterised by its impressive gradient. The title also made city residents, past and present, to realise that it’s not just one of Lincoln’s but one of the county’s unique and special places.

Cathedral trespassers take stunning rooftop photos

Two self-titled urban explorers trespassed at night on to Lincoln Cathedral to take adrenaline-fuelled rooftop photographs of Lincoln. The pair also went inside Lincoln Cathedral in one of their two trips to the city during August, while their photographic adventure prompted the Cathedral to bump up security.