In November the county was preparing for another lockdown, but Christmas was still in the mind of many Cumbrians.

Emmanuel Church in Mill Street, Ulverston, was asking for people who wanted a free two-course Christmas dinner delivered to their home on Christmas Day to get in touch.

Barrow’s annual lights switch-on turned virtual with Hairy Biker Dave Myers, professional footballer and England player Georgia Stanway, the Lancashire Hotpots and Father Christmas himself all appearing online.

%image('12085139', type='article-full', caption='GOODWILL: Hairy Bikers' Dave Myers, delivered a festive message in Barrow's Christmas lights switch-on', alt='GOODWILL: Hairy Bikers' Dave Myers, delivered a festive message in Barrow's Christmas lights switch-on')

In Kendal, the lights were switched on too in a much more low-key affair than usual.

In other news, a bungling burglar who left a boot-print at the scene of a £10,000 raid on a Windermere home under renovation was jailed for almost four years.

Mark Chapman, 46, of Milnthorpe Road, Helsington, near Kendal, denied the charges.

Barrow farmer Jim Webster was recognised for his outstanding loyalty and service by the Country Land and Business Association and was presented with the President's Award 2020.

A decision by the Lakeland Motor Museum, Backbarrow, to include a 1994 Vauxhall Corsa as its latest exhibit attracted national publicity.

%image('12030283', type='article-full', caption='ARRIVAL: A 1994 Vauxhall Corsa GLS was delivered to the Lakeland Motor Museum to add to the collection', alt='ARRIVAL: A 1994 Vauxhall Corsa GLS was delivered to the Lakeland Motor Museum to add to the collection')

Construction work was due to begin on a controversial housing development for 92 new homes in West End Lane, Ulverston.

In Barrow, plans for illuminated signs at the new DFS store in Hindpool Retail Park were approved prior to the furniture store opening the following month.

In Kendal, engineering company Gilkes revealed that it had invested £1million in new machinery.

Five new seal pups were born at South Walney Nature Reserve, the only grey seal colony in Cumbria.

To date the reserve has 316 seals, five times more than when the colony population first started 15 years ago.

Barrow Brownie Darcy Fidler, 10, was presented with the coveted Girlguiding Gold Award during lockdown.

Normally it takes three years to achieve the Gold Award but Darcy finished the scheme in just two years, saying lockdown gave her more time to do it.

Cumbrian young farmers raised an amazing £50,300.53 for charity this year through a variety of different fundraising events, including a sponsored bike ride, curry nights, cake bakes, car treasure hunts and bingo.

South Lakes Safari Zoo was set to have new landowners by Christmas after an offer was accepted to purchase the site.

The land, which houses South Lakes Safari Zoo in Dalton, was sold to another northern zoo after being put on the market in the autumn.

A holiday park was faced with the heartbreaking decision to axe hundreds of trees in a race against time to prevent the spread of a deadly disease.

Skelwith Fold in Ambleside was battling to fell up to 200 trees in its grounds this winter, after the fatal Phytophthoras plant disease was found for the second time on the park.

A new artist in residence was appointed to work at William Wordsworth’s home at Rydal Mount next year.

Clara Li-Dunne is more familiar than most with Wordsworth and the beautiful house near Ambleside, having worked there as a guide for the past nine years.

Former Sedbergh School pupil Abbie Ward represented England women’s rugby union team in an autumn international beating France 25-23.

And finally, a Kendal band's new song made its first appearance on the BBC Radio 1 playlist.

LOWES’ song Rhythm Is Changing, in collaboration with High Contrast, was added to the radio station’s playlist.