Emily McGarvey and Lana Lam

Image source, Tiktok / JamesMarcusPaley

After a bumper week of reporting on the most inspiring and joyful moments of the year, we've come to the end of our 100 heartwarming stories live page.

With just days to go until Christmas, it's been great to take a step back and appreciate all the moments that have made this year a good one.

Some of our favourites were the man who ate his mum's 22-year-old mince pie to celebrate Christmas, and who can forget Pesto the "absolute unit" of a penguin who turned into a viral superstar.

There were smiles aplenty from Dee Harrison's mix-up of the red hues of a tomato factory with the Northern Lights, to Cinnamon the capybara's cheeky zoo escape.

So whether you're spending the holidays with mates like these who've grabbed a pint every month for the past 64 years, or going on blind dates to meet new buddies, or going a bit overboard with the Yorkshire puddings like this gentleman, who wore 350 of them, make it a good one.

Thanks for joining us throughout this week and here's to a safe, happy and heartwarming holiday season.

Image source, Eyecandy Photography

We've arrived at our 100th heartwarming story, with a cheerful tale of how a couple’s wedding day was saved by the kindness of strangers after a wheel fell off of the Volkswagen campervan transporting the bride to the venue.

Paige Lawson, 28, who was on her way to her Plymouth wedding to Steph Lawson, 37, was left standing at the side of the road in tears.

Paige’s luck changed, though, when strangers came to help - florist Catherine Scawn "twigged" what was happening and she and her husband David offered to take Paige and her mum, Cat, to the wedding.

After the wedding, the brides tracked down their heroes to thank them for their kindness.

Catherine said: "Hopefully it didn't spoil her day too much and she can look back at it and laugh, that on the way, the wheel literally fell off."

It connects us all the way back to the beginning of our epic week of recapping the most positive stories of the year, which started with our very own Live Reporter Thomas Mackintosh getting married for £100 with 99 other couples.

It's our penultimate heartwarming story and it's not your typical scene in Glasgow - the Grinch, in full Santa splendour, being bundled into the back of a police van.

But that's exactly what happened when a group of kids dressed as pint-sized police officers "arrested" Dr Seuss's green-faced anti-Christmas character at their nursery recently.

Earlier this month, an intruder broke into the Ivy in the Park nursery and stole an iPad. Staff cleaned up the broken glass door but the boarded-up windows got the children a little worried.

To allay their fears, staff told the children that the Grinch was responsible and hatched a plan for them to catch him.

With the help of the nursery's caretaker and local police officers, the nursery children - donning their best police uniforms - caught the Grinch and even managed to recover a bag of chocolate.

Image source, JANE SWEET

You might be used to your cat bringing in food scavenged from bins or even live prey, but this pet owner says her cat Tofu is "cleaning up Britain's streets" by bringing random bits of "tat" through his cat flap.

Tofu was taken in by Jane Sweet from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, who found the stray kitten last September.

Jane set up a camera so she could watch Tofu and his adoptive sister Sushi - who proudly brings home mice - but found Tofu bringing home crisp packets, cardboard containers and even a roll of unused dog poo bags.

"It wasn't until he brought home a bag of cat treats (that was more than half full) that I thought, actually, maybe he is entering people's homes," she told the BBC in April.

Jane has apologised on a community Facebook group for Tofu getting into someone's house and "stealing things" - luckily it put a smile on many faces in the town.

Four years ago, Peter Routledge was shopping online after a few festive drinks, when he realised he'd made a huge error.

In a drunken mistake, he'd purchased an inflatable Santa that was actually taller than his two-storey home in the North Yorkshire village of Poppleton.

Peter said his wife, Katy, was "not hugely amused" when it arrived. But once they put it up in their driveway, "everyone sort of loved it".

Now, each year, the Routledges reinflate the supersized Saint Nick. "The last few years we've been putting him up and raising money for charity," said Peter.

In the spirit of Christmas, has Katy forgiven her husband for making this extra-large error? "Absolutely, he is forgiven," she said.

For most, the commute to work is a pretty unenjoyable experience - cramped conditions, delayed services, a lack of fresh air, the list could go on...

But, if you're lucky enough to live in south Wales, your journey might be one that you would look forward to.

That's because train conductor Chris Edwards regularly serenades commuters by singing onboard announcements.

The 61-year-old has a repertoire of 200 tunes that he uses to give helpful information to passengers in a not-so traditional way. He even gets requests from passengers who recognise him.

Your Voice, Your BBC News
By Emily Doughty

Image source, Mark Sanders

A modern take on Santa's sleigh, known as the “light ranger”, is roaming the streets of Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire.

The light ranger goes around each night to bring cheer as well as raise money for a local charity, Grove Cottage.

Mark Sanders started the make-over four years ago, with 4,000 lights. This year, there's 12,000.

Speaking to Your Voice, Your BBC News, Mark said: “It transforms people, its fantastic. They know its Christmas when they can see the car.”

“I now go out with Father Christmas so he can deliver his presents. Everyone waves when we go past, not just children," he adds.

Your Voice, Your BBC News

The weather outside might be a tad frightful but here inside the BBC's London office, the atmosphere is truly delightful, with the many stories that you've shared with us this week.

We've had stories that have truly stood the test of time such as the couple who reunited after five decades apart to the woman who spotted the name of her uncle, who died in World War Two, by chance on a memorial pillar at the British Normandy Memorial in May.

We saw how friendships can flourish in the most unlikely places, as it did for Vince and Josie Byrne. The Manchester couple, in their 70s, were stranded but a stranger, only known to the couple as a musician called Matt, stepped in.

And if you're hosting the annual family meal this year and getting a little stressed, be inspired by law student Visha in Derby, who's organised a community dinner for the city's homeless and vulnerable so will be cooking a festive feast for about 50 people with other volunteers.

Your Voice, Your BBC News
By George Walker

Image source, Sue (the owner)

It was Sue’s first time on a train with the dogs she organises activity holidays for, when disaster struck her own dog, Spartacus.

“I was helping the other dogs off the train at Ludlow and the next thing I knew Spartacus jumped down the gap. I was shouted over and just felt sick to my stomach.”

After an "unhelpful" guard told her the train had to leave, Sue just couldn’t lift all 48kg of Spartacus by herself.

“I thought, 'I’m going to have to jump down with him, because they’re not going to run me over, are they?'”

Then, at the opportune moment, a heroic stranger performed a random act of kindness, lifting Spartacus out.

“I thanked him, but he was soon gone. I couldn’t tell you what age he was, or what he looked like.”

Sue wants to thank him properly.

“It renewed my faith in human nature," she says.

Kamilah McInnis
The Upbeat

Hello! I’m one of the lead writers of The Upbeat, the BBC’s weekly newsletter showcasing uplifting stories and remarkable people from around the world.

We love hearing from readers who share their favourite stories or send us new ideas. Recently, Fred told us his favourite story we’ve included in the newsletter “just has to be the otter”, referring to the heartwarming tale of a couple who rescued a starving otter. Another reader, Nadira, said she loved the piece about the Sussex sea snail sculpture accused of resembling a poo emoji.

Sign up to our newsletter, The Upbeat, and get uplifting news delivered to you every week.

Annita McVeigh
Chief presenter, BBC News

Image source, Judy Bray/BBC

"Aren't posties brilliant!" historian James Holland declared when I spoke to him in October about the letter he'd received addressed simply:

Mr James Holland,

Well known historian,

Wiltshire

Inside were anecdotes written by 102-year-old Judy Bray, widow of World War Two veteran, Charlie, who had served in the Italian campaign - the subject of Holland's latest book.

Thanks to Royal Mail staff who added some extra information to the envelope, these precious memories were safely delivered by postman Andy. James and Judy later met at a talk he was giving.

In a high tech world, this story of low tech ways of getting things done, and the power of community, made lots of us smile.

Pupils at Malvern College in Worcestershire had a festive surprise this week when a video of their head teacher recreating Hugh Grant's iconic dance scene from Love Actually went viral.

Keith Metcalfe said he was persuaded to star in the clip by the school's marketing team for an end-of-term staff quiz. His tribute to the 2003 Christmas film has racked up more than 400,000 views so far.

Metcalfe said he found the experience "quite amusing" as he is "not much of a social media person".

"I suspect I will get a few comments when I pop into the supermarket," he added. "But it's great to hear people are smiling – that's what we want."

Ian Aikman
Live reporter

It's our final day of sharing heartwarming stories here on the BBC News live page, and Christmas spirit is in the air.

I've just spotted a presenter carrying a tinsel-clad wooden reindeer across the newsroom. It reminded me of the 89th story we shared on this page, which saw a real deer crashing a rugby match earlier this year.

Today we’ve also seen 167 dogs come together for a nativity play, an injured military horse return to work after a well-deserved break, and 2,000 tradespeople team up to rebuild one of Europe’s most iconic landmarks.

While we're close to reaching the 100 mark, don’t let that get you down. We have more stories which are guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

And we’d still love to hear from you, so get in touch here with your own heartwarming tales that you think deserve a place on the page.

It’ll be worth your time because, as we heard from an artist who gives away his work for free this morning, spreading happiness is “more valuable than money”.

Meghan Owen
Senior reporter, BBC News

This summer saw the Olympics take place in Paris and for one man - a man most of us have watched grow up, become an Olympian AND become a dad - this summer also saw his retirement.

Tom Daley is, and will remain, a sporting legend. The 30-year-old qualified for his very first Games aged just 14 in 2008, and has competed at all Olympic Games since then. He went on to win his first Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021, and remains Team GB's most decorated diver in Olympic history.

But his journey goes beyond sport. Over the years, we've watched him grapple with grief as he lost his father, talk openly about his sexuality, and become a father himself. His decision to retire, after decades in the public eye, was a big moment - and an emotional one.

In his first broadcast interview about this announcement, fighting back the tears, we captured the moment live on the BBC News Channel, which anyone reading can re-live now. Take a look...

• You can read more about Daley's 16-year career

Image source, HOO ZOO AND DINOSAUR WORLD

It's the great escape that captivated hearts worldwide.

A day before her first birthday, and on Friday the 13th no less, Cinnamon the capybara escaped from her enclosure at the Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Shropshire.

Staff at the zoo were quick to act but Cinnamon's cheeky antics meant she evaded her keepers as she fled into woodlands within the zoo.

As volunteers searched for her, zoo owner Will Dorrell told the BBC that Cinnamon was "probably living her best life", prompting a wave of global interest in the South American rodent.

"Every single story I'd see pop up on Facebook or everything else had that quote in it," Will said. "There's so much bad news about I think people wanted a bit of light relief."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Cinnamon finally returned home a week later. Now, a children's book is in the works and even rumours of a film, though as Will said, they are still waiting for a call from Hollywood.

Image source, HOO ZOO AND DINOSAUR WORLD

Image source, IMAGEEXCLUSIVE.CO.UK/PARROTPRINT

BBC Radio 5 Live has finished its special broadcast to mark the last day of our 100 heartwarming stories coverage.

Listeners from across the country got in touch, including Bev, who owns Britain's "ugliest" dog, Muppet.

Other callers shared tales of everyday kindness:

• Gemma in Gateshead told the programme about the daytime nightclub she runs for older people

• Bill in Derby said thank you to the strangers who paid for his meal

• Kathy in Preston shared how her church expanded its coffee morning to help fight the cost of living crisis

We also heard a few familiar stories first-hand from people we’ve featured in our page this week, including Norma, who helped knit a 16ft Christmas tree; Rachel, who runs the Winston’s Wheels disabled dog charity; and Helen, the Billingham Dancing Lady.

You can listen back to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Colin Paterson
Entertainment correspondent

Image source, Temi Adegbayibi

Ezra Collective are possibly the most joy-filled live act in the UK right now. In November they became the first UK jazz act ever to headline Wembley Arena.

A decade ago, Femi Koleoso was taking drum lessons at school so he could “miss half an hour of maths”. His teacher suggested he should go to a Saturday youth club called Tomorrow’s Warriors at the London’s South Bank Centre, which specialised in jazz.

His brother TJ would grab his bass after playing rugby and come along, as they did everything together.

Soon Ezra Collective were formed, with James Mollison, Ife Ogunjobi and Joe Armon-Jones completing the line-up.

Their mantra is summed up by the bible verse written on their drum kit. Nehemiah 8:10: “The joy of the Lord is your strength” and joy is what they transmit.

Their shows turn whole venues into euphoric, pulsing dancefloors. This is why they have gone from playing to 30 people in Foyles bookshop, to arenas.

And after Wembley Arena what about its neighbour?

TJ is not ruling it out: “I mean the difference between Foyles bookshop and Wembley Arena is probably bigger than the difference between playing Wembley Arena and Wembley Stadium, so who knows?"

Image source, EPA

World leaders, royalty and some famous faces descended on Paris earlier this month to witness the reopening of Notre-Dame five years after it was saved from a fire that devastated the cathedral.

President Macron said in a speech at the reopening ceremony, “the bells of Notre-Dame are ringing again” adding, "we had the will, the hope, the daring" to rebuild Notre-Dame and make it more beautiful than ever.

An estimated 2,000 tradespeople worked on rebuilding the Parisian landmark in an restoration project that lasted five years.

The building is now completely transformed and open to the public. You can see its luminous limestone interior and stained glass below in these pictures.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

A rugby match got in the way of a Buckinghamshire deer's run on Saturday, resulting in a slight stumble from one of the players. Deery me.

Simon Thake
BBC Radio Sheffield

Image source, Simon Thake

Saeid Hashemi, 35, came to the UK from Iran as an asylum seeker. After being granted refugee status, he settled in Sheffield and now wants to give something back to his community.

The BBC met him earlier this month as he was helping elderly residents to improve their digital skills. He wants to change perceptions about asylum seekers.

Saeid gives his time for free to volunteer at the digital training sessions for Lodge Moor Tenants and Residents Association (TARA).

TARA member Doreen Treweek said: "We all love him, I love him. He helped me set up Zoom so I can speak to my grandson."

Saeid says their relationship has helped him to settle into life in Sheffield.

"The ladies are my only family here.

"The women are like mothers. They bring food, they look after me. They try and help me with my language and revising for exams."