FROM a furious Womble to a streaker on the pier – what would life be without weird and wonderful stories?
The final year of the decade failed to disappoint Argus readers who have a penchant for the preposterous.
So to celebrate another year packed full of odd and sometimes odious news stories, we have chosen some of our favourites.
On the day we count down to the end of the decade, we count down the ten weirdest stories of the year.
Number 1: Palace Pier streaker caught after six-hour stand off (June 12)
Brighton’s Palace Pier was closed as a naked man ran amok on it.
The man was seen leaping from roof to roof as he evaded security guards before jumping into the sea.
He then escaped from a Coastguard boat which had rescued him and climbed back on to the pier, according to witnesses.
Stunned onlooker Ben Johnson, who managed to take a picture of the man, said: “I was shocked, it’s my first time in Brighton and It’s a Tuesday.
“The naked man was running around the pier.
“He jumped on to Horatio’s bar roof, then on the dolphin derby roof.”
Police, the fire service and the Coastguard were at the scene, trying to keep the situation under control and contain the man.
Brandon Duke watched from the beach as the man jumped from the pier into the water.
He said: “I saw a naked male jump into the sea. He said the coastguard found the man in the water but he managed to jump back up on to the pier.
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