Review of the year: This is Staffordshire's most read stories of 2012- part 1

WITH Christmas over for another year and 2012 drawing to a close, This is Staffordshire brings you a list of the most popular article of the last 12 months.

Ranging from sport stories to breaking news, here's part one of our selection.

You can click on the link below each entry to read the original in full.

Join us again tomorrow, when we will reveal another ten articles.

1) Sunderland footballer Craig Gardner's £500 gift for brave Sneyd Green toddler

In June, a Sneyd Green toddler battling a rare disorder was given special clinical equipment – after a Premier League footballer offered him a surprise gift.

Brave two-year-old Danyl Brough is now able to watch his favourite cartoons in comfort after his family's chance meeting with Sunderland star Craig Gardner.

To read the full story click on the link below:

•Sunderland footballer Craig Gardner's £500 gift for brave Sneyd Green toddler

2) Owner's grief as lovely horse Ruby is cut in half by trailer

The owner of a horse that died in an horrific accident began a campaign to make motorists more aware of riders on the roads.

Seven-year-old mare Ruby had to be put down after suffering extensive injuries in an incident at Bignall End, near Newcastle.

To read the full story click on the link below:

•Owner's grief as lovely horse Ruby is cut in half by trailer

3) Complaints after Port Vale players caught urinating in bushes

With the new football season fast approaching, police were called in after Port Vale players were caught urinating in bushes by a park warden during pre-season training.

The warden also reported being verbally abused by some of the players following the incident at Hanley's Central Forest Park.

To read the full story click on the link below:

•Complaints after Port Vale players caught urinating in bushes

4) Teenage footballer, 13, dies after scoring goal

In January, a teenage footballer died after collapsing on the pitch as he celebrated scoring a goal with his family.

Thirteen-year-old Liam Wood had just scored for AFC Saints when he had a seizure on a pitch at Knutton.

To read the full story click on the link below:

•Teenage footballer, 13, dies after scoring goal

5) I’m a working girl not a prostitute, says massage parlour owner after raid

In February, the owner of a massage parlour called on the police to let her run her business in peace.

The 60-year old, who likes to be known as 'Crystal', said her services should be offered on the NHS to relieve stress.

To read the full story click on the link below:

•I’m a working girl not a prostitute, says massage parlour owner after raid

6) Stoke City: Pulis left deflated after FA Cup draw against Liverpool

In February, Tony Pulis described Stoke City's FA Cup quarter-final draw at Liverpool as poor reward for their victorious efforts at Crawley Town.

Pulis was delighted by Stoke's 2-0 win at Crawley after seeing his team reduced to 10 men with Rory Delap's controversial red card early on.

But a trip to Anfield inevitably put a slight dampener on their celebrations in deepest Sussex.

To read the full story click on the link below:

•Stoke City: Pulis left deflated after FA Cup draw against Liverpool

7) Stoke-on-Trent families offered £1 homes- and 30k refurbishment loans

In August, families were offered the chance to buy boarded-up homes for £1 – and then get low-interest £30,000 loans to refurbish them.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council launched the £3 million scheme to create new communities in areas blighted by empty houses and a high turnover of tenants.

To read the full story click on the link below:

Stoke-on-Trent families offered £1 homes- and 30k refurbishment loans

8) Pregnant mum, 19, found dead at home

Pregnant teenager Hayley Wilton was found dead in her bathroom – three weeks before she was due to give birth to her third child.

Family and friends paid emotional tributes to Hayley, who was found dead at her Clayton home.

To read the full story click on the link below:

•Pregnant mum, 19, found dead at home

9) Grief as Birches Head woman Natalie Lungrin dies after being taken seriously ill

A 24-year-old council worker died in October after being taken seriously ill as she was driving her car.

Natalie Lungrin, who grew up in Birches Head, never regained consciousness after telling a friend she needed to stop the car because she was feeling faint.

To read the full story click on the link below:

•Grief as Birches Head woman Natalie Lungrin dies after being taken seriously ill

10) TV show explores impact of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s budget reduction

Viewers of a BBC documentary which showed how the city has so far coped with council cutbacks were warned that what they saw was just a taste of what’s to come.

To read the full story click on the link below:

•TV show explores impact of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s budget reduction

For part 2 of our review of the year click here