January blues may have passed but the bad weather continued into February and penguins at Scarborough Sea Life Centre were so fed up with the relentless wind and rain, that staff prescribed them anti-depressant pills.

Gales ripped up trees and telegraph poles across the region; trains were delayed. The Met Office confirmed winter 2013-2014 as the wettest for a century.

Four thugs branded as “animals’”were jailed following a street attack in York.

A camera van was introduced to catch motorists who park illegally or dangerously near the city’s schools.

The council budget revealed 240 job losses and savings of more than £10 million for the next financial year. A 1.9 per cent council tax rise was approved.

The Press discovered secret Lendal Bridge files after a Freedom of Information request as fines reached the £1.3 million mark.

York Castle Museum unveiled “the worst Valentine’s Day card in history”.

The 100-year-old Victorian example featured real facial hair stuck on to resemble a moustache.

It was revealed that York Hospital lost £8.5 million in Government fines; watchdog Care and Quality Commission criticised the city’s mental health hospitals for falling short of national standards.

A damning report said deaf patients were denied fair access to healthcare in York.

North Yorkshire farmers headed south to help with the relief effort for flood-hit colleagues.

York College was told to pay £175,000 compensation over the death of tragic nursery victim Lydia Bishop in 2012.

British born Tim Hall, who has lived in York almost all his life, was refused JobSeekers Allowance because he was not considered an habitual UK resident.

The week-long Jorvik Viking Festival culminated in a spectacular light and sound show interpreting the Norse apocalypse Ragnarok.