IT HAS been another eventful year in our borough.
This year has seen shocking crime, including the unsolved rape and murder of Michelle Samaweera, transatlantic terror trials and a crisis over school places.
And the ongoing scandal about the misappropriation of regeneration money continues to plague the council.
But throughout the year the Guardian has also taken unusual pictures, often of people doing quirky or interesting things, which enliven the community.
Here is our selection of the best pictures of 2009:
Snow in February made the recent wintry scenes look pathetic, the heaviest snowfall for 20 years led to all buses in London being cancelled, delayed train services and the closure of schools.Our photographer snapped this picture of St John's Church (EL18062-27).
The former Woolies store in Leytonstone High Road was in October transformed into a giant canvas for people to paint (EL18062-24).
In January well-known reptile enthusiast Snakey Sue went on reality television show Britain's Got Talent with a slippery friend, but got buzzed off by an unimpressed judging panel (EL18062-28).
A double-decker bus slammed in to a McDonald's restaurant in Walthamstow, causing minor injuries to three passengers -our photographer was on hand to capture the scene in January (EL18062-10).
Families enjoyed watching maypole dancing at the Lloyd Park fun day in May (EL18062-21).
An unwanted 'ugly' hairless dog named ET found a home in Chingford in September, new owner Monique Elton said it was “love at first sight”(EL18062-41).
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