The stories most read on Renfrewshire News in 2025 reflect a year shaped by serious crime, loss of life and major court cases, alongside reporting that focused on everyday life across our towns and villages.
Based on our analytics data, readers consistently turned to stories where the stakes were highest — including deaths, rape trials, murders and major incidents — before also engaging strongly with coverage of transport disruption, council decisions, retail news and large community events.
Renfrewshire News is also proud of the time and space it gives to non-serious and community-focused stories, including charity events and local initiatives, which are often overlooked elsewhere.
Here is a snapshot of some of the most-read stories of 2025, presented by importance and impact, with links to the original reporting.
Serious crime, deaths and court cases:
Man charged over rape of 12-year-old girl in Johnstone
The charge prompted significant public interest, as readers sought updates on a major police investigation into one of the most serious alleged crimes reported locally in 2025.
Man admits causing death of Paisley granddad Jim Paterson in high-speed crash
A tragic case that resonated widely, highlighting the devastating consequences of dangerous driving and prompting renewed discussion around road safety.
Paisley rapist jailed for nine years
Sentencing in this case attracted strong readership, with many returning to the story as the court proceedings concluded.
Man, 19, arrested after death of 21-year-old man in Paisley
The death prompted a major police investigation, with readers closely following updates as officers worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Road crashes, emergencies and public safety:
Main road closed at Elderslie after smash involving a car and a bus
Road closures and disruption following serious crashes consistently attracted high readership, particularly when they affected key commuter routes.
Police charge driver after bus crashes into Paisley railway bridge
While the incident itself was not considered major, readers were drawn to the story due to the Greenhill Road bridge’s history of repeated vehicle strikes, which previously saw it ranked among the most-hit railway bridges in the UK.
Pedestrian dies in hit-and-run on Barrhead Road in Paisley
A fatal collision that prompted widespread concern and appeals for information.
Community impact and major local decisions:
Major works to start as part of £145million investment in Paisley
Readers showed strong interest in stories explaining how major investment projects would affect schools, transport and regeneration.
Renfrewshire Council named UK Council of the Year
One of the most-read and most-discussed stories of 2025, the award sparked a strong response from readers on social media. Many questioned whether the council deserved the title, while others defended its record, leading to one of the year’s most active comment threads.
Read the story | See how readers reacted
Retail, jobs and everyday life:
Sainsbury’s to open two new stores in Renfrewshire
Retail news proved hugely popular, with readers keen to know where new stores were opening and what it meant for local jobs.
Asda Linwood set to change its opening hours
Changes to supermarket opening hours attracted strong interest.
Events and lighter reads:
Photographs from Paisley Food and Drink Festival 2025
Photo galleries from major events remained among the most-read lighter stories of the year.
Open-top bus parade set for Paisley to celebrate St Mirren cup win
Sporting celebrations and community moments provided a contrast to the year’s heavier news.
Sport:
Sport was a major driver of readership in 2025, particularly when success on the pitch became a shared community moment. Local football stories, cup runs and title wins consistently ranked among the most-read sports coverage on Renfrewshire News.
Johnstone Burgh lift the Scottish Junior Cup
Coverage of Johnstone Burgh’s triumph in the Scottish Jounior Cup drew significant readership, with fans following match reports, reaction and celebrations as the club secured one of the most important trophies in its history.
Open-top bus parade by St Mirren celebrates cup success
Scenes from celebrations following major cup wins proved hugely popular, with photo galleries and event coverage attracting strong engagement across the site.