Whilst many people will be glad to see the back of 2020, the year hasn't been a complete write-off for everyone.
With communities banding together, businesses offering kind gestures, and hit shows filmed on the borough streets, this year has given us some good news alongside the heartache.
Here are a selection of some of this year's best stories.
Veteran's smart celebrations
Dozens of people came together to help Second World War veteran Wilf Oldham celebrate his 100th birthday and MBE ceremony in style.
Long-time friend Kevin Orton took the decorated hero to Slaters on Deansgate to buy a suit for his celebration, and the pair were surprised to find all of his purchases were on the house.
The Radcliffe hero fought in the Battle of Arnhem, one of the bloodiest battles of the war, as part of Operation Market Garden, depicted in the film A Bridge too Far.
Ad success for barber
Bolton College student Joshua Ord, 16, landed a spot on the silver screen when he appeared in a McDonald's advert in October.
The barbering apprentice beat thousands of other actors to the role, his second advert ever after appearing in a 'Get Into Teaching' campaign as a featured pupil.
His performance was broadcast to millions during a break in the Britain's Got Talent final.
READ MORE: Bolton student stars in latest McDonald's ad - which is leaving viewers in tears
Home-built bars
After all the pubs shut their doors in March, some people showed off their creativity by building their own watering holes in their back gardens.
Phil and Donna Neath turned their shed into a cosy tavern, cheekily named after Jamie Oliver's mobile pub – The Cock In Cider.
The project began in 2019 as a 40th birthday present to Phil, but lockdown let the couple to finally finish the pub.
READ MORE: Farnworth couple build their own pub in a garden SHED - and it looks brilliant
Mystery crocheter revealed
The wholesome story behind the mystery crochet gifts left around Royal Bolton Hospital hit headlines in February, when crafter Shirley Bannister, 63, was revealed to be behind the woollen creations.
The funeral director, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last November, managed to keep her identity as the kind-hearted crocheter a secret for months, until one of the nurses offered her one of the gifts at an appointment.
Nurses who had been touched by her tokens surprised her at one of her appointments, handing over a bouquet of flowers and sharing their appreciation.
READ MORE: Mystery of Bolton woman behind acts of crochet kindness unravelled
Man reuinited with his teen saviours
A recently-retired bingo hall worker was able to thank the schoolboys who saved his life after he collapsed at a bus stop, after other passers-by wrongly assumed he was just drunk.
David Blomley, 66, fell to the floor in pain at a bus stop in Church Street, Little Lever, as he tried to get home to Radcliffe.
Fortunately, 15-year-olds Cayon Williams, Jobe Oldham, Marcus Morrison, Logan Jackson and 14-year old Joe Kirkham, were returning from football practice when they heard his shouts for help and rushed to help him and called an ambulance.
Mr Blomley, who has just been discharged from the borough hospital after treatment for a perforated stomach ulcer, was overjoyed to meet the boys who helped him when no one else would.
When Top Gear came to town
Top Gear fans were delighted when Paddy McGuinness brought co-stars Freddie Flintoff and Chris Harris to Bolton town centre for an exciting challenge.
The trio needed to spend 24 hours in their cars, heading to Bolton Market before being spotted again at Rigby's Chippy in Deane.
Eagle-eyed fans spotted the presenters outside Bolton College, the University of Bolton Stadium, and Three Sisters Race Track.
READ MORE: What happened when Top Gear spent 24 hours in Bolton
This impressive Santa cake
Hospital staff were awestruck earlier this month, when kind-hearted Rosie Dummer donated a six foot cake to the Royal Bolton.
The mum, who spent just two weeks on her creation, wanted to remind people of the heroic work done by the NHS, after watching her student doctor daughter struggle through the pandemic.
Showing Santa hugging a nurse, the huge cake was transported from Rosie's Clitheroe hone to the hospital, before being sliced up into hundreds of pieces for staff.
READ MORE: Baker sends 'magic of Christmas' to hospital with SIX FOOT cake
This kind family's fruit stall
The Barry family earned themselves quite the reputation around Breightmet, after Mum Angela, 32, her husband Martin, 33, and boys Joshua, nine, Ben, seven, and Isaac, four, pulled out all the stops to help their neighbours through the pandemic.
After a spell of illness before lockdown began, Angela decided to order some extra fruit and veg to put on a stall outside the house.
Neighbours were able to take their pick from the fresh produce, with the Barrys, affectionately known as the Dovedale family, footing the bill.
READ MORE: Meet the 'Dovedale family' lending a hand in Breightmet
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