Most read stories of the year: 30 to 21

Each day the BBC Scotland news website produces a blog of the most popular stories of the previous day.

Here is your chance to look back on some of the stories with the highest daily hit counts of the past 12 months.

30

Alex Salmond has made political history after becoming the first Nationalist to be elected first minister of Scotland.

Salmond elected as first minister

29

One of Scotland's top private schools has condemned a video which showed ex-pupils staging a mock "chav hunt".

School condemns 'chav-hunt' spoof

28

The Scottish National Party has become the largest party at Holyrood, taking one seat more than Labour after a day of electoral high drama.

SNP pips Labour in Holyrood vote

27

The success of a wild bird in Scotland, despite declining numbers in the rest of Europe, has mystified experts.

Rise in divers mystifies experts

26

The mother of a teenage cross-country skier who froze to death along with a friend on a Norwegian mountain has described him as a "wonderful boy".

Ski deaths teen a 'wonderful boy'

25

The trial of a convicted killer and sex offender who was accused of murdering two young women in Edinburgh 30 years ago has collapsed.

Judge throws out World's End case

24

Kilt wearers could face prosecution if they do not have a licence for their sporran under new legislation which has been introduced in Scotland.

Sporran wearers may need licence

23

Six abandoned kittens, taken in by an Aberdeen nurse, have found an unexpected new mother figure - a pet rabbit.

Kittens 'adopted' by pet rabbit

22

Major roads in central Scotland were brought to a standstill after a lorry containing 1,800 chickens crashed on the A80, leaving birds running loose.

Chicken lorry crash causes chaos

21

The skull of missing Glasgow accountant Andrew Ramsay has been found in the Firth of Clyde, police have confirmed.

Skull of missing accountant found