IT MAY be one of the loopiest ways of greeting the New Year - but there's no denying its popularity. (02/01/2009 16:16:53)

ON the 12th day of Christmas St John's staff delivered Linlithgow's first festive baby of 2008. (31/12/2008 13:28:14)

TURNING 50 last month, Rita Wishart from Linlithgow returned to where her life started on the town's very own High Street. (31/12/2008 13:26:48)

CENTRAL Scotland's longest married couple, Bob and Susan Erskine of Bo'ness, celebrated an incredible 72 years of marriage on New Year's Day. (31/12/2008 13:25:07)

WEEKS of early starts, tough training and rigorous inspections have paid off for Paul Fairholm, with the 19-year-old now a proud Royal Marine. (31/12/2008 13:22:22)

VANDALS ruined a toddler's Christmas by landing his parents with a £500 bill. (31/12/2008 13:21:04)

MOVES to invest £2.4 million on the Avon Gorge upgrade have been put back a year by the credit crunch. (31/12/2008 13:19:11)

WOOLWORTHS closed in Bo'ness on Monday, leaving a prime town centre site vacant and 16 staff without jobs. (31/12/2008 13:17:07)

AN under-siege bowling club could be forced to shut down after a week-long series of attacks. (24/12/2008 11:54:47)

KIDS from Torphichen and Westfield could end up being sent to Linlithgow Academy. (24/12/2008 12:21:17)

A Queensferry man who as a youngster learned to sail at Port Edgar Marina is taking part in the most prestigious and gruelling yacht race in the world. (24/12/2008 12:07:13)

AMID claims of corruption and wrongdoing, a police probe has been launched into planning procedures at West Lothian Council. (24/12/2008 11:52:40)

A DOZEN new jobs are being moved to Linlithgow's County Buildings. (24/12/2008 11:51:20)

WORKERS with Walker Timber will return to a four-day week after the festive break, in a further sign of tough times in the construction industry. (24/12/2008 11:50:21)

A BO'NESS church is celebrating Christmas Eve with a festival of light and a special message. (24/12/2008 12:49:55)

SCOTLAND'S health helpline NHS 24 is urging people in the Journal and Gazette area to help themselves stay fit and healthy over winter and the festive break. (19/12/2008 12:14:30)

IN A bid to ban unwanted salespeople from local homes, Winchburgh has become the latest village in the Journal and Gazette area to set up its own Cold Calling Control Zone. (19/12/2008 12:15:56)

PLANS for offices at Avon Place, Linlithgow, have been halted to find out whether the area has significant historic value. (19/12/2008 11:11:24)

THE SUCCESS of West Lothian Schools Brass Band continued for a fourth year in a row when they won this year's Scottish Youth Brass Band Championships. (19/12/2008 11:58:45)

WHEN architect Bryan Michie collapsed at work his life was saved by the quick-thinking actions of a local hero. (19/12/2008 12:20:18)