THE Manchester Evening News handled more than half a million pictures this year. We've selected these as some of the defining photographs of 2005.

SMACKER: Wellwisher Jean Peterson surprised Tony Blair with a kiss in Wythenshawe. WHO'S THIS: Salfordian Christopher Eccleston was revealed in March as the ninth Doctor Who. EASTER JOY: New Springtime arrivals at Reddish Vale Farm in Stockport. BREATHTAKING: Circue du Soleil pitched their Grand Chapiteau tent at the Trafford Centre. JOKER: David Beckham had charity champ Kirsty Howard in stitches at March's BUPA Run. POP DUO: Bolton's Peter Kay took Tony Christie's Amarillo to the top of the charts in March. BIG DEAL: Bingo caller Charlie Waldruck slimmed from 45 stone.... ...to reach this amazing weight of 22 stone in April. He's since lost a further 7 stone! SHOWGIRL: Kylie wowed 16,000 fans at the M.E.N. Arena in April, before news of her cancer scare. VIP TRANSPOT: New Mayor of Northwich Lesley Cotterhill in her offical 1959 Isetta bubble car. STREET CRIME: Shopper Janet Scott lay bloodied on the pavement after June's King Street shooting. AHOY THERE: The luxury Hebridean Princess was the Ship Canal's first-ever passenger vessel, in July. HOWZAT! Andrew Flintoff celebrated England's Ashes win in September, the first since 1987. SKYSCRAPER: Builders pass Beetham Tower's half-way mark, watched by Urbis and the new ferris wheel. BEST SEND OFF: Thousands lined the route to George Best's funeral march this month in a sad farewell STAR TIME: X-Factor's Shayne Ward paid a triumphant visit to the Arndale - where he once sold shoes. Tweet