We take a look back at some of our most popular stories of the year as 2016 draws to a close.

Eastern Daily Press: Scene of air craft crash in the village of Topcroft in Norfolk. Picture Rob Colman.Scene of air craft crash in the village of Topcroft in Norfolk. Picture Rob Colman. (Image: © Rob Colman 2016. No Syndication.)

1. Ten things you'll only understand if you grew up in Norfolk

From the puppet man to the bishy barnabee our tongue-in-cheek look at some of Norfolk's unique characteristics raised a few smiles and turned out to be our most read story of the year.

Eastern Daily Press: Fatal collision on the Great Yarmouth bound carriageway of the A47 near Little Melton, Norwich. Photo : Steve AdamsFatal collision on the Great Yarmouth bound carriageway of the A47 near Little Melton, Norwich. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Copyright Archant Norfolk 2016)

2. One man dies after light aircraft crash near former RAF Hardwick site

In October we reported on the death of John Marshall following a plane crash in Topcroft, near Bungay. An eyewitness said of the crash: 'I actually saw it in the distance circling to come in and there was certainly no sign of anything untoward on there.'

Eastern Daily Press: A picture Lisa took in the house on Silver Road which she says contains the figure of a man. Can you see anything out of the ordinary? Photo: Lisa HamiltonA picture Lisa took in the house on Silver Road which she says contains the figure of a man. Can you see anything out of the ordinary? Photo: Lisa Hamilton (Image: Archant)

3. A47 now reopened following earlier closure as man's body found on side of carriageway

The body of a man was found in the early hours of the morning in January on the A47 near to Norwich. The body was discovered on the side of the carriageway about half a mile past the B1108 eastbound. The man was later named as Nikolaus Paul Stephens.

Eastern Daily Press: A scary clown costume hanging up in Top Hat costume hire shop. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYA scary clown costume hanging up in Top Hat costume hire shop. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

4. The Norwich house that's so haunted even paranormal investigators won't go inside

Just days before Halloween we told the story of one woman whose house in Norwich was so haunted the landlord called in paranormal experts to investigate the property. They said they could sense an angry male in the house who they thought had been a gang member that had killed people.

Eastern Daily Press: Bill's restaurant tipping policy. Former employee Ellis Langdon and current employee Laura Rose.Picture: ANTONY KELLYBill's restaurant tipping policy. Former employee Ellis Langdon and current employee Laura Rose.Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2016)

5. Man dressed as clown arrested in Norwich after chasing woman through Eaton Park

Norwich was one of a host of towns and cities across the country which were targeted by clowns in October. A 30-year-old man from south Norfolk was cautioned by police after he dressed up as a clown and chased a woman through Eaton Park.

Eastern Daily Press: 19 We went out to have a look to see what was going on. We saw at least four individual whales which we believed to be sperm whales swimming around in the shallow water. Nigel Croasdale, manager of Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary, was called to Hunstanton Beach after a sperm whale became stranded on the cliffs, January 2016. Picture: Ian Burt19 We went out to have a look to see what was going on. We saw at least four individual whales which we believed to be sperm whales swimming around in the shallow water. Nigel Croasdale, manager of Hunstanton Sea Life Sanctuary, was called to Hunstanton Beach after a sperm whale became stranded on the cliffs, January 2016. Picture: Ian Burt

6. Norwich restaurant accused as workers claim they don't receive service charge

Employees from Bill's in Norwich accused the company of allowing its customers to believe their service charge payments were going to staff, when they were in fact being kept by the company. They claimed staff did not receive a penny from the optional charge.

Eastern Daily Press: Jeremy Kyle was filming a documentary in Norwich. Picture Twitter/ChrisFloydJeremy Kyle was filming a documentary in Norwich. Picture Twitter/ChrisFloyd (Image: Archant)

7. Crowds flock to see Hunstanton whale as three more wash up dead on beach in Lincolnshire

In January crowds flocked to Hunstanton to see the body of a giant sperm whale which washed up on the beach. It was one of a number of the same pod which beached along the east coast that month.

Eastern Daily Press: A USAF F-15E Strike Eagle from RAF Lakenheath.A USAF F-15E Strike Eagle from RAF Lakenheath. (Image: Archant)

8. 'What I saw was unbelievable' - Jeremy Kyle on his visit to Norwich's Prince of Wales Road

Controversial television presenter Jeremy Kyle spent a Saturday night on Norwich's infamous Prince of Wales Road in September and said he never thought a night out in the city could 'turn so sour for some'.

Eastern Daily Press: Shane (left) and Sam (right) Nobbs. Picture: Norfolk ConstabularyShane (left) and Sam (right) Nobbs. Picture: Norfolk Constabulary (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)

9. Fighter pilot responsible for causing sonic boom over Norwich to 'receive additional training'

RAF Lakenheath confirmed that a large bang heard over Norwich in November was caused by a brief 'sonic event'. The pilot received additional training to prevent a similar thing happening in the future.

Eastern Daily Press: Some of the images from the top resd stories of 2016. Picture Archant LibrarySome of the images from the top resd stories of 2016. Picture Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

10. 'Lovely lads who will be missed ' - tributes paid to brothers who died in Horsham St Faith crash

Friends of brother Shane and Sam Nobbs, who died in a crash on the A140 near Horsham St Faiths in November, took to social media to pay tribute to them, calling them 'lovely lads'.