2012 in pictures: UK
January
A group of wheelchair bound protesters chain themselves together across Regent Street in Oxford Circus, London, as they protest against the Government's Welfare Reform Bill. The Bill stalled in its progress through Parliament, as many aspects were rejected by the House of Lords.
February
Singer Charlotte Church leaves the High Court in London after being awarded a settlement from News Group Newspapers for phone hacking. The singer and her parents settled their phone-hacking damages action for approximately £600,000 at the High Court.
March
A woman walks past the world's largest deckchair on Bournemouth Beach. The giant chair was built by sculptor Stuart Murdoch, weighs almost six tonnes and is eight and a half metres tall. People across the UK took advantage of the unseasonably warm temperatures and dry weather. A hosepipe ban was imposed across much of the country to conserve water supplies.
April
But then the rains came. Heavy downpours caused flooding across many parts of the country, and heralded one of the wettest summers on record. The hosepipe bans were lifted in June.
May
The Olympic torch arrives at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall for the start of the torch relay across the UK.
June
A flotilla of boats make their way towards Tower Bridge, during the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant on the River Thames in London.
July
Fireworks at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in East London. The dazzling spectacle, which ran for almost four hours was created by film director Danny Boyle.
August
Mo Farah and Usain Bolt copy each other's trademark celebrations at the London Olympics. The two, who are friends, came together after Farah won his second gold of the games and Bolt his third.
September
The Red Arrows Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team fly in formation over the Queen Victoria Memorial next to Buckingham Palace during the London 2012 Victory Parade for Team GB and Paralympic GB athletes in London.
October
Following a number of allegations of child sex abuse against former BBC presenter Jimmy Savile, his family asked for the removal of his headstone from Woodlands Cemetery, Scarborough. The NSPCC said it the allegations made it possible that "Jimmy Savile was one of the most prolific sex offenders" the charity had come across.
November
A surfer braves the waters of the North Sea off The Esplanade, Aberdeen. Floods across the UK throughout the month killed four people and destroyed more than a thousand homes.
December
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge leave King Edward VII hospital in London. Kate had spent four days in hospital being treated for very acute morning sickness. The hospital spell forced the couple to announce the news of Kate's pregnancy early.
