30 December 2010Last updated at 01:37

A year in pictures 2010 - UK

A man competing in the Tough Guy Competition at South Perton Farm, Perton.

More than 5,000 people braved an obstacle course in Perton, Staffordshire, officially dubbed the world's "most dangerous taste of mental and physical pain". They paid for the privilege of enduring mud, freezing lakes, barbed wire and fire.

Gordon Brown speaks to local resident Gillian Duffy in Rochdale

The general election was one of the most unpredictable and memorable in decades. Gordon Brown's efforts to meet ordinary voters backfired when, thanks to a microphone that had been left on, he was heard calling a Labour voter a "bigoted woman".

Conservative Party leader David Cameron, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and Prime Minister Gordon Brown take part in the third and final leaders' TV debate.

The third TV debate, a week before polling day, was the final chance to land a knockout blow. David Cameron delighted grassroots Tories by ditching some of his "big society" rhetoric in favour of a more traditional message on immigration and Europe.

General view of the Corus Teesside Cast Products site in Redcar which is to be moth balled this week with the loss of 1,600 jobs.

A parliamentary debate was called to consider the future of the steel industry on Teesside. The Corus blast furnace was shut down on 19 February. The site had been at risk since April 2009 when international buyers pulled out of a 10-year contract.

Chelsea players celebrate with the FA Cup trophy after the game

Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti hailed a "great season" after the club sealed a Premier League and FA Cup double beating Portsmouth at Wembley. The Italian believed that Petr Cech's spot-kick save in the 56th minute was a crucial turning point.

A police officer guards the scene of a shooting, on Duke Street in Whitehaven, Cumbria

Twelve people were killed and 25 injured by gunman, Derrick Bird, who opened fire in west Cumbria. The first fatality was his twin brother, David, in Lamplugh. His body was found in a wooded area near Boot.

Prime Minister David Cameron (right) drinking a toast at a contract signing with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (not pictured) with Education Secretary Michael Gove (left), Business Secretary Vince Cable (second left) and Chancellor George Osborne second right) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the first of a two-day trip to China.

David Cameron called for closer trading ties between Europe and China - but said the UK still had "deeply-held concerns" over human rights. Ending the UK's two-day trade mission, he urged China to further open its markets and correct trade imbalances.

British singer George Michael is escorted out of Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in London

Singer George Michael was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and possession of Class C drugs. He was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, fined £1,250 and given a five-year driving ban.

The Royal Navy's newest and largest attack submarine HMS Astute ran aground off Skye on Scotland's west coast. Described as the stealthiest ever built in the UK, the £1bn boat was being put through sea trials and was not armed.

Nuns shelter from the rain under umbrella hats as they await the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI to conduct a Mass to beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman in Cofton Park, in Birmingham

After all the fears of a possible debacle - street protests and a poor turnout - there was a tangible sense of relief as thousands cheered and waved flags as Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in Birmingham on the final day of his visit to the UK.

Gorillaz perform on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 25, 2010 in Glastonbury, England

Soul legend Stevie Wonder helped the Glastonbury Festival celebrate its 40th anniversary with a crowd-pleasing set to close the event. Muse and Gorillaz topped the bill on the other nights.

Manuel Neuer of Germany watches the ball bounce over the line from a shot that hit the crossbar from Frank Lampard of England

Goal-line technology was back on the agenda after Fifa revealed the 2010 World Cup was to be the last under the existing refereeing system. Fifa said that TV replays showing Frank Lampard scoring a goal against Germany was a "bad day" for the organisers.

A rioter is silhouetted by a car burning in a street during a fourth night of Nationalist rioting in Belfast

Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, described violence in north Belfast as a "setback against the huge progress made in recent times". Petrol bombs were thrown by rioters in the Ardoyne area and police officers used water cannon.

Police involved in a six-hour stand-off with a gunman, Raoul Moat, fired two Taser stun guns at him, it emerged. Moat shot himself after officers cornered him by a river in Rothbury, Northumberland, following a week-long manhunt.

Soldiers of the Coldstream Guards leave a memorial service at the Guards' Chapel, Wellington Barracks before home coming parade.

The number of British military deaths in operations in Afghanistan since 2001 stands at 348 after a soldier was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan on Tuesday as he helped to clear an area of bombs.

Relatives of those shot dead on Bloody Sunday wave copies of the long awaited Saville Inquiry report in the air outside the Guildhall in Londonderry.

The Bloody Sunday killings were unjustified and unjustifiable, Prime Minister David Cameron said, announcing the findings of the Saville Report. Thirteen marchers were shot dead on 30 January 1972 in Londonderry when British paratroopers opened fire.

Players from the European team practise on the 17th green ahead of the 2010 Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor in Newport, south Wales

Colin Montgomerie said regaining the Ryder Cup was a "very proud moment for all of Europe" after a thrilling final day at Celtic Manor. The United States took it down to the wire, but Graeme McDowell beat Hunter Mahan to secure a 14½-13½ win.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney celebrates scoring a penalty kick during their Champions League soccer match against Rangers in Glasgow

Protesters gathered outside Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney's Cheshire home, following an announcement he wanted to leave the club. He later changed his mind. The player was already in the spotlight amid allegations about his private life.

Local residents march in a procession carrying the coffin of Linda Norgrove, who was killed in a failed rescue attempt in Afghanistan, during her funeral on the Isle of Lewis, in the Western Isles of Scotland

Local residents march in a procession carrying the coffin of Linda Norgrove during her funeral on the Isle of Lewis, in the Western Isles of Scotland. The aid worker was killed in a failed rescue attempt in Afghanistan.

Prince William and his fiancee Kate Middleton pose for a photograph in St. James's Palace, central London

Prince William spoke of his and fiancee Kate Middleton's happiness, as the newly-engaged couple faced the cameras for the first time. The couple, both 28, will marry on Friday, 29 April, after he proposed while on holiday in Kenya in October.

Students protest over the government's proposed changes to tuition fees

Students staged protests across the UK as MPs debate controversial plans to increase university tuition fees. Some left university buildings they were occupying to join pupils and lecturers marching on the streets - many converged on Westminster.

Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, react as their car is attacked by angry protesters in London

Questions were raised about the police handling of the protests after a car carrying the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall was attacked. A window was smashed and paint thrown at the royal couple's vehicle.

Annabel Lee, sic, is pulled on a sledge by her brother Archie, eight, through a snow covered woods in Birkenhead, north-west England.

The Christmas travel plans of thousands were in disarray as Arctic weather conditions hit Britain. Several airports closed and train services were cancelled due to heavy snowfall in many areas.

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A year in pictures 2010 - UK

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