In February, traders in Edgware warned more needed to be done to help their “dying” high street - even with council plans to introduce cheaper parking.

Meanwhile, Edgware hosted international football superstars including Neymar, Ramires and Ronaldinho when the Brazilian football squad used Barnet FC’s The Hive training centre ahead of their friendly against England at Wembley.

There was dismay among Barnet fans just a week later though, with confirmation that the club would be leaving the borough to play its home matches at the Camrose Avenue stadium in a ten-year agreement with Harrow Council.

Parents began a petition to fight the expansion of Holly Park Primary School in Friern Barnet, which they claimed was already overcrowded.

And in one of the month’s more unusual stories, keen swimmer Terry Messenger was banned from his LA Fitness gym in New Barnet after complaining that the pool was regularly closed. He later had his membership reinstated following an appeal by the Times Series.

A pair of heroic police officers saved the life of a woman when she reversed her car into the freezing waters of a large pond in Totteridge.

The officers were later commended for their bravery and received attention from the national media for their actions.

There was frustration in West Hendon after a regeneration project for the area stalled, leaving many families who had been told their homes would be demolished in limbo.

Barnet Council later promised to kick start the project with additional funding, though the situation for many households remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, police in East Finchley began investigating the death of a man found in his burnt out shed at the Fuel Land allotments.

They later concluded the death was not suspicious and an inquest was ordered by the coroner.