AS 2017 comes to a close, we reflect on the highs and lows of an eventful year in Ceredigion and Montgomeryshire.

One in which Lib Dem MP Mark Williams’s long reign as Ceredigion’s representative come to an end at June’s General Election after Ben Lake prevailed, and Storm Brian battered our coastline.

January

• Residents had to flee for safety after a house was engulfed in flames. Firefighters rushed to Sea View Place, off South Road in Aberystwyth, after a large fire broke out in the attic room, blowing glass windows onto the pavement below.

• Pupils at Ysgol Llwyn yr Eos in Penparacu pleaded with a councillor to ensure a pedestrian crossing was built across a busy road near the school.

They asked Cllr Lorrae Jones-Southgate to do all she can to get a crossing built over the A487 near Neuadd Goffa and St Anne’s Church before there is an accident.

• Thieves who stole computers from Ysgol Gymraeg in Aberystwyth were described as “despicable”.

Headteacher Clive Williams said the theft from a cabin at the school would affect the education of his pupils until they could be replaced.

February

• A row erupted over a football pitch in Talybont used by over 120 soccer players of all ages.

Owner Ioan Beechey said he needed the field for livestock and claimed the Cae’r Odyn Galch Playing Field Association were often late paying rent and left rubbish on the pitch.

• Aberaeron Flood Reaction Group founder and yacht club commodore Nick Sawyer called for a breakwater to be constructed in the town’s harbour.

But Ceredigion County Council said the idea was unviable because it would lead to the loss of valuable habitat for Sabell­aria alveolata, otherwise known as honeycomb worms.

• Well-known 90-year-old Penparcau pensioner Jackie Day had a lucky escape when he was involved in a collision with a car.

The incident led to renewed calls for safety measures on the main road through Penparcau.

March

• An Aberystwyth shop worker spoke of her amazement after winning a coveted prize.

Gabriella Tedaldi, 22, whose family runs the Penguin Café, was guest of honour on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway show on ITV after racing to a sofa on Constitution Hill and having her number picked by a computer on the previous week’s show.

• A Lampeter mother said that her bullied daughter “would not be here now” without the help of a PCSO who “saved her”.

PCSO Ryan Jones was nominated for a Dyfed-Powys award after being put forward by the mother of a girl who was being bullied at school.

• A fearless dog was rescued by the Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team after spending many hours trapped at the bottom of a gorge outside Machynlleth.

Dauntless, a two-year-old bitch, had run into a steep-sided gorge near Aberhosan and the owners had made several attempts to rescue her themselves without success.

April

• A battle between the owner of PD’s Diner on Aberystwyth’s promenade and landlords Ceredigion council looked likely to end up in the courts.

David Day was in dispute with the council over negotiations regarding a new lease following reports that his rent was going up by around 40%.

• An inspirational Lampeter woman who was left almost completely blind after a spinal cord infection was shortlisted for a national award.

Louise Jenkins of Henllan was one of three finalists for the Inspirational Guide Dog Owner of the Year award.

• Tributes were paid to an Aberystwyth University scientist who died after being hit by a train.

Dr Sandra Pierre, 38, died at the scene of the incident involving the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth train on the railway bridge over the Llandre to Borth road near Dolybont where she lived.

May

• The Newcastle Emlyn-based owner of a 40/1 outsider which sensationally won one of the biggest steeplechases in the National Hunt calendar celebrated winning £84,000.

Einsley Harries, of Llandyfriog, bought Henllan Harri as a four-year-old colt for just £29,000 in Ireland in 2012 and spectators at Sandown Park watched in disbelief as the rank outsider pulled off an almighty upset to win the legendary Bet365 Gold Cup after leading throughout the race.

• There were calls for more refugees to come and live in Ceredigion.

Aberystwyth town councillors called on the British government to allow more refugees from Syria to come and live in the county. Councillors also agreed to join the City of Sanctuary scheme, a network of towns and cities which works together to help refugees integrate into society, after hearing from Aberaid.

• A hospital with a difference at Cwmann, near Lampeter, opened its doors to some prickly customers. The West Wales Hedgehog Rescue opened the first hedgehog hospital in the area in a bid to halt the fall in their numbers.

June

• Questions were asked about the state of Aberystwyth’s drains when heavy rain caused flooding in the cellars of three town centre pubs.

Torrential and persistent rain overnight forced the closure of Lord Beechings, the Cambrian Hotel and the Vale of Rheidol pubs, all on Alexandra Road.

• A new project to bring back native woodland and wildlife to a windswept mountain near Machynlleth got the go-ahead after a funding drive raised £350,000.

The campaign to raise funds was to purchase the 352-acre site at Cefn Coch in the Cambrian Mountains.

• Plaid Cymru candidate Ben Lake beat the Lib Dems to take the Ceredigion seat in the General Election.

Our look back at 2017 continues with the second half of the year here