Without question, 2018 has been one of the most dramatic years for news in modern times.

The county has been gripped by stories like the revelation of secret plans to turn the M26 into a lorry park if Brexit goes south, a huge Morrisons fire and the deepening migrant crisis in the English Channel.

Throughout it all, KentOnline has kept you up to date with breaking news and the latest developments on major stories affecting you.

Here are your 11 most-read stories of 2018.

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11. Homeless man scooped into bin lorry

Emergency crews were sent to Rochester High Street after a homeless man was accidentally scooped into a bin lorry, breaking his leg.

Tragically, Russell Lane died in hospital more than a month later after suffering a cardiac arrest in surgery after he endured heavy bleeding from his femoral artery.

He had been waiting to be transferred to Southampton for a second opinion after doctors at Medway Maritime Hospital said they wanted to amputate his leg.

10. Works on Medway Bridge cause month of M2 closures

Parts of the M2 were shut for several days at a time throughout October and November for maintenance works, which caused disruption for motorists.

The carriageway on the Medway Bridge was resurfaced in both directions while joints on the London-bound side were replaced.

Whole stretches of the route were shut for up to six days at a time.

9. Hundred of Hoo Academy headteacher Gary Vyse dies

There was an outpouring of grief following the death of a leading head teacher in charge of schools around Medway and known for his no-nonsense approach to discipline.

Gary Vyse was chief executive of the Williamson Trust, which runs six schools in the Medway area.

It was later revealed in an inquest the troubled head teacher committed suicide before an "imminent" meeting about an incident which he feared would cost him his job.

8. 'Gunman' enters McDonald's

Two men were arrested after apparently walking into a McDonald's with a gun.

The incident resulted in armed police rushing to the fast food restaurant in Strood following reports of a gunman inside.

Two men were arrested five hours later and an airgun was seized but they were later have been released without charge.

7. M20 closed after body found on carriageway

A stretch of the M20 was shut for more than 20 hours after a woman's body was found on the carriageway.

Police launched a murder inquiry after Dominique Worrall, 32, was found on the London-bound stretch in Ashford in February.

A 30-year-old man from Greenhithe who was questioned after handing himself into a north Kent police station was released under investigation in May. Police inquiries are ongoing.

WATCH: KMTV's biggest stories of 2018

6. M20 closed after crash

A section of the M20 was closed for more than nine hours in October following a serious crash in which four people were injured.

One person was taken to King's College Hospital in London with serious injuries, while a further three were taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital for treatment.

The road was closed coastbound between junctions 4 and 5 following the incident shortly after 1am and was shut throughout the morning rush hour.

5. Money raised for family of crash victim Georgia Mann

More than £10,000 was raised within seven hours to help with funeral costs of a teenager who died after a car crash on the A249.

Georgia Mann, who was 15 and from Sittingbourne, was a back seat passenger in an Audi that had broken down on the slip road at Bobbing, when it was struck from behind by a van shortly before midnight on Wednesday, October 24.

She was rushed to London's King's College Hospital but tragically died of her injuries two days later.

4. Police called as customer used Asda toilet without buying anything

A supermarket promised an investigation after calling in police to deal with a customer who had used the store’s toilet.

Christopher Smith had stopped off at Asda's Sittingbourne branch for some cigarettes when he was caught short - and asked a casher if he could nip to the loo before making his purchase.

However, police were called when he said he wanted to make a complaint after he was tapped on the shoulder by a security guard who told him the facilities were for customers only.

3. Acid attack on dog owner

Two men who tried to steal a dog from its owner then sprayed the man with a burning substance when he refused to hand over his beloved pet.

The victim was rushed to hospital after the attack in Boughton Monchelsea, near Maidstone, and his 10-month old puppy was taken to a vet as a precaution.

A £1,000 reward was later offered for information leading to the conviction of the culprits.

2. Horror attack on schoolgirl

The nation was shocked after a video of a horrendous attack on 12-year-old schoolgirl Evee-Anne Cooper emerged on social media.

Our update that a third teenage girl was arrested after the brutal assault was the highest-viewed in a series of articles which captured the attention of celebrities like Hugh Grant, Ricky Hatton and Daniella Westbrook.

Evee-Anne made a full recovery. The girls arrested remain under investigation.

1. The Beast from the East

The undisputed top story on KentOnline this year was the monster storm the Beast from the East, which caused temperatures in Kent to drop to as low as -11C.

It led to major problems on roads and rail - and readers lapped up our coverage of school closures and weather forecasts.

Seven of the top 10 most-read articles on KentOnline in 2018 were about the huge storm, with our live updates as snow blanketed the county and details of the severe weather warning the highest-viewed pages of the year.