Tesco

SHOPPERS are set for a major boost as a supermarket giant launches its first ever Express store in the UK.

It marks the start of a huge national rollout that’ll see up to 20 new stores open before the end of the year.

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The retail titan, Asda, has opened the doors to its brand-new Express in Castleford, West Yorkshire,

It’s the first time Asda has taken its famous yellow and green brand into the world of small-format convenience stores, as it looks to take on Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local head-on.

The new shop, built on the site of a former pub on Holywell Lane, has been completely transformed into a slick, modern mini-market packed with more than 3,000 products.

From meal deals and snacks to fresh fruit, booze and ready meals, locals can now grab all their essentials in one quick stop.

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It’s open every day from 6am to 11pm, making it perfect for early risers, night owls, and anyone in desperate need of milk after hours.

The store also comes kitted out with handy extras, including a Costa Coffee machine, ATM, and Amazon collection point, plus, you can get your shopping delivered via Uber Eats, Just Eat or Deliveroo.

Shopping bargains

Asda says the new Express format is designed to bring its trademark low prices and big-brand bargains to places where it’s not always had a strong presence.

New locations will pop up in busy city centres, transport hubs and even residential areas.

It’s all part of the supermarket’s mission to “bring unbeatable value to even more communities” across the UK, according to bosses.

Joseph Sutton, Asda’s Vice President for Express, Foodservice and Fuel, said:

“We’re delighted to have opened the doors today in Castleford, marking the start of our Express store rollout as we bring Asda’s unbeatable value to new communities across the UK.”

He added: “From top-up essentials to convenient food-on-the-go options, we’re excited to welcome new customers and offer outstanding value.”

Rapid growth

Asda first dipped its toe into the convenience market in 2022, and things have moved fast.

The supermarket now plans to have around 500 Express stores open by the end of the year, with even more coming in 2026.

Each store will also feature electronic shelf-edge labels (a fancy way of saying digital price tags), designed to make life easier for staff and keep prices crystal clear for shoppers.

So whether you’re nipping in for bread and milk or a cheeky lunchtime sandwich, chances are you’ll soon be doing it in an Asda Express near you.

More on Asda

It come’s after Asda announced its price reductions, cutting the cost of nearly 1,000 everyday products.

The reductions will be available both in-store and online and will include massive discounts on cupboard staples such as pasta, cooking sauces and tea and coffee.

Meanwhile, Asda is following three other major supermarkets in introducing a big change to aisles across 186 stores from October.

The supermarket chain has introduced dedicated menopause aisles as has online grocery store Ocado.

This roll-out hopes to “raise awareness and understanding of the menopause experience,” said Matt Pryde, Senior Buying Manager for Asda Toiletries.

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MORRISONS is to introduce a big change to its stores to make sure shelves are stocked faster by floor staff.

The supermarket giant is rolling out a tracking app for store managers so they can see how quickly staff are unloading food onto shelves.

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It said the new system, which was first reported by the Telegraph, would allow them to identify when employees may need additional training.

It comes as Morrisons tries to win back shoppers from rivals, as it is set to be overtaken by Lidl as Britain’s fifth biggest supermarket.

The latest data shows that the discount retailer makes up 8.3% of the grocery market share against Morrisons’ 8.4%, according to Worldpanel.

This is compared to Morrisons‘ 8.6% a year earlier, and 9.4% in 2022.

The supermarket said it had been tracking how quickly staff were working for some time now to make sure the right number of workers were on the shop floor.

But the new app will “help teams understand their own performance” and allow employees’ work to be monitored by store managers, rather than the company’s head office.

A Morrisons spokesperson said: “Along with a lot of our sector, we have used ‘time and motion’ data for some time now to help us allocate hours to a store and ensure we have fair, consistent and standardised ways of working.

“To support this, we have created an app to help teams understand their own performance.

“This will allow us to be fair and consistent in recognising colleagues, whilst also identifying opportunities to coach our colleagues and understand where additional support and training may be required.”

Earlier this year, in a move to improve customer service in stores, Morrisons changed its rules for staff so that only certain workers would be allowed to enter stockrooms.

The retailer said it wanted to ensure it had “the right colleagues in the right place to deliver the best service to customers at all times”.

What else is happening at Morrisons?

Last year, Morrisons slashed over 3,600 jobs and closed 17 stores as part of a major shake-up to its operations.

The supermarket’s workforce dropped from 104,819 to 101,144 in the year leading up to October 27, 2024.

Thousands of jobs were axed across Morrisons’ stores, head office, as well as its manufacturing and distribution operations.

The latest job losses come after the Morrisons shut 17 of its stores around the UK earlier this year, with the final store in Haxby, North Yorkshire, closing on May 14.

The 16 other stores were all axed in April.

As part of a cost-cutting overhaul, the grocer also shut more than 50 of its in-store cafés, 35 meat and fish counters, and 18 Market Kitchen food courts earlier this year.

It cited the need to cut costs amid rising financial pressure.

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SWEET-TOOTHED fans can now get their hands on a new Penguin selection box.

McVitie’s has revealed its first ever Penguin Selection Box as part of its festive lineup of products.

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The box (RRP £3) includes six Penguin treats across a variety of flavours.

There are two original Penguin milk chocolate biscuit bars, one Penguin Mint, one Penguin Orange, in addition to two bags of mini biscuits.

The biscuit bags are in the Cocoa and Cocoa & Orange flavours.

McVitie’s says that the box “comes in bright seasonal packaging featuring the iconic Penguin jokes, along with a maze and word search on the back.”

While savvy shoppers have spotted the box on Asda shelves, it has yet to be listed online.

The new product does feature on the Tesco website, where it is currently marked as “out of stock”.

Other festive finds

McVitie’s festive range also includes the Chocolate Digestives Anniversary Tin, celebrating 100 years since the inception of these beloved biscuits.

The 340g tin contains milk, dark chocolate and white digestives.

You can find this exclusively in Sainsbury’s for £7.50.

This winter you can also try the Flipz Gingerbread Flavour Coated Pretzels Share Bag (RRP £2).

And McVitie’s are adding a seasonal spin to a much-loved favourite, giving their White Digestives a festive makeover with playful snowflakes and snowmen packaging.

McVitie’s isn’t the only brand to have revealed new festive products.

The M&S Christmas range for 2025 includes new products such as the Original Peanut Butter & Jelly Munch, as well as a Peanut Butter & Jelly Spread.

The iconic Munch tins first launched in 2021, but this year’s version has been given an American twist, with the treats now available as a peanut butter and jelly flavour.

Last year, the M&S Very Merry Munch tin was advertised as “perfect for movie nights”, with fans calling it “heaven”.

Marmite fans may also like to try the Pecan & Salted Caramel Blondies with a hint of marmite, as well as the new M&S marmite caramel sauce.

Mars have also revealed new Christmas chocolate treats, including a Milky Way Advent Calendar released for the first time and sold exclusively in Asda.

If you’re a Tesco shopper, you’ll be able to get hold of the new Galaxy Miniatures Pouch.

Shoppers were quick to spot the new pouches on the supermarket shelves, with some taking to the Snack Reviews Facebook group to comment: “This bag is perfect,” said one user.

“I need some of these,” added another.

The 260g pouches contain a mix of individually wrapped Galaxy chocolates in the original Smooth Milk and Caramel flavours.

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LIFE is better together – and that goes for your bank balance, too.

Buddying up can mean all sorts of savings, from everyday bills to days out.

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Here’s how to get a cash boost by sharing the love . . . 

REFERRALS: If you’ve had great service from a company, why not let your pals know?

Many firms will reward you if you refer someone as a new customer.

This is true for most utility providers, as well as credit card firms.

Even just referring a mate to cashback site TopCashback will net you £20.

So next time you’re telling someone about a great offer, check if you can get something for the recommendation.

Just make sure you get sign-ups through your own unique links or codes to get the reward.

BULK BUYS: If you’re buying tickets for an event, always try to buy with friends and then split the total between you.

This means that if there are booking fees you’ll only pay one between you.

Plus, many venues offer multi-ticket savings that are worth looking for.

For example, you can pay £24.50 to visit the Minecraft Experience in London, but this reduces to £18.50 each if there are seven or more tickets bought through a group bundle.

FRIEND FOR THE ROAD: Travelling can be expensive but you can ease the pressure with others in tow.

Ride app Uber easily allows you to add extra pick-ups on the way to a destination and divide the bill with contacts who also have an account.

If you have a pal who you frequently travel with, the Two Together railcard is £35 a year but gives you a third off off-peak fares when you travel together.

Or with GroupSave, groups of three or more adults can get a third off off-peak train fares when travelling together.

For regular journeys, such as to the office, why not ask work friends if they fancy lift sharing and you can take it in turns to drive.

You’ll save on petrol and get a little added company too.

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• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability. 

Deal of day 

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UPGRADE your kettle to the Bosch silicone model with a covered heating element so you don’t have to descale as often.

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SAVE: £30

Cheap treat 

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TERRY’S is about more than its famed chocolate orange.

This caramel ball, £1.98 from Asda, is just as tasty.

WHAT’S NEW? 

HEINZ has launched a range of bean and pulse-based pouches for an easy, nutritious lunch.

You can get them for £2 from Sainsbury’s with a Nectar card (£2.50 without).

Top swap 

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LATHER up with the seasonal sugar pumpkin scent of Body Shop’s shower cream, above, £8.50.

Or sniff out a bargain with Wilko’s pumpkin spice pie shower cream, below, £1.99.

SAVE: £6.51

Shop & save 

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GIVE yourself an easy hairdo with this pack of three claw clips, down from £4.50 to 50p at Matalan.

SAVE: £4

LITTLE HELPER 

STORE kids’ toys or clothes with the help of this ottoman.

It’s £7.99 with a Lidl Plus card or £9.99 without.

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SAVE £5 on selected box sets of books at The Works.

Titles include Diary Of A Wimpy Kid and A Court Of Thorns And Roses.

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

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BISCUIT fans, rejoice – the Tim Tam Sweet & Salty is back for good after sparking a shopping frenzy across the UK.

The Aussie choccie treat hit Tesco shelves in July as a limited edition and vanished almost instantly, with desperate snackers even hunting them down on eBay.

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The biscuit was first created as a tongue-in-cheek April Fool’s joke online – but demand went wild, forcing makers to put it into production.

Brits flooded comment sections with comments in fear the treat would not make a return to UK shelves. 

One shopper said: “My local Tesco store is no longer stocking this!”

Another added: “I’ve not been able to find a single packet in my store!” 

Now, Tim Tam bosses say it’s here to stay.

From October 3, shoppers can grab the cult treat in Tesco stores nationwide.

Talyah Falabella, Tim Tam’s international marketing manager, said: “The response to Tim Tam Sweet & Salty in the UK has been nothing short of incredible. 

“What was meant to be a limited-edition treat quickly became one of our most talked-about biscuits, with fans desperate to find it in stores.”

Tim Tams have long been Australia’s best-loved biccy – a crunchy biscuit with smooth cream filling, all covered in chocolate. Now Brits are well and truly hooked.

So, if you missed out the first time round, no need to raid eBay – just head to Tesco and bag yourself a packet of the viral biccy Brits can’t get enough of.

It comes after the release of the new white chocolate flavour earlier this month which left shoppers delighted. 

 Sainsbury’s supermarket was the first UK store to stock the white chocolate version of the snack.

One shopper said: “Need the white chocolate ones.”

While another eager customer said: “Sainsbury’s are now selling white chocolate timtams, my lil Aussie backpacker heart is so happy.”

And a third shopper simply said the treat looks “yummy”.

The tasty treat comes in many flavours, including chocolate and caramel.

Shoppers can also try out a range of other flavours too, including milk chocolate and extra chocolatey.

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A MAJOR supermarket chain has released five new cookie flavours for sweet treat lovers.

Tesco launched the new range of Finest Cookies earlier this month, with five new flavours hitting the market.

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The five new flavours include Belgian milk chocolate, Belgian triple chocolate, Belgian white chocolate, jumbo oat and flame raisin and chocolate shortbread.

All flavoured cookies come in a four-pack and are baked in-store.

Tesco Clubcard members can also get their hands on the new flavoured cookies for just £2.

The plastic packaging can also be returned to soft plastics collection points at Tesco stores and the cardboard bases can be recycled at home.

An eagle-eyed cookie lover shared the scrumptious find on Facebook group Baby Deals UK, saying: “These new Tesco Finest Cookies look so tasty and are just so hard to resist”.

Online punters have also weighed in on the new flavours, with many people saying not much has changed.

One person wrote: “They aren’t new though, they’ve just been put in new packaging”.

Another said he preferred home-baked goods.

“Nah not for £2, make them yourself, much better, cheaper and have as many as you want,” he said.

The cookies have sparked fiery debate as other shoppers sang their praises.

“They’re delicious, better than the old version,” one person wrote.

Another said: “Aye looks amazing, loved crumbled cookies”.

Other people claimed Tesco had just ripped off competitor M&S’s popular cookies.

“Packaged like M&S, bet they’re not as nice,” one person said.

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“Have to try these [and] see if they’re as good as the M&S ones!” another comment read.

The Tesco release comes almost one year after M&S released its in-store biscuit range, revamping an old favourite recipe.

At the end of November last year, the store also launched a Christmas-themed version, Gingerbread and White Chocolate, which earned particularly glowing reviews.

One fan said on X: “Those Marks and Spencer ginger and white chocolate cookies live up to the hype. Very dangerous.”

Another added: “Please keep the white choc & gingerbread cookies beyond Christmas. I need them all year!”

But while the taste has been praised as “amazing”, shoppers are unhappy the treats now come wrapped in plastic rather than paper packaging.

The M&S film bags can only be recycled by taking them to supermarkets, meaning they are less likely to be reused compared to the old paper wrappers.  

Commenting on Facebook, one fan said: “Why are the bakery cookies now packed in a plastic bag rather than paper?! Backwards move. Not part of Plan A surely?”

Another added: “I hope they haven’t changed the paper bags to cellophane, as if they have I won’t be buying them.”

Meanwhile, on X, another fumed: “Why have you gone from paper bags for cookies to plastic? Thought you had a focus on sustainability?!?”

ICELAND has revealed this year’s Christmas range including a Baileys yule log and TGI Fridays pigs in blankets.

While the big day is some time away, it’s always good to prepare yourself for the festive season.

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Luckily, Iceland’s new Christmas menu will hit shelves from November 6 and offers everything you need to throw a festive bash.

The items will also be available to buy at Iceland’s The Food Warehouse.

Paul Dhaliwal, Chief Commercial Officer at Iceland Foods, said: “Our customers expect variety and flavour without breaking the bank, and this year we’ve delivered just that. We’ve perfected the festive staples and added new twists that will impress and bring joy to every bite. 

“From classic centrepieces and irresistible desserts to brand-new creations and party essentials, there’s something to suit every kind of Christmas celebration, no matter your style or budget.”  

What’s on the menu?

Iceland‘s menu this year offers customers everything they’ll need for Christmas lunch or dinner from beloved Christmas classics to some new additions.

This includes everything from their Sweet Chilli Sticky Prawns and Pizza Chicken Wedges to TGI Fridays Cheeseburger & Chip baskets.

Shoppers will be able to sink their teeth into a range of Christmas meats, pigs and blankets and all the trimmings on top.

And if you are thinking of throwing a festive bash this year, customers can take advantage of their mix-and-match deals on select products like three items for £10.

Or shoppers can stock up with their £1 party range and luxury platters.

But among the showstoppers of this year’s Christmas range is the Luxury Perfect Turkey Crown.

For £28, you can get your hands on 2.2kg of frozen boneless skin on turkey crown with added water topped with sunflower oil and herb and spice marinade.

We also have a feeling that many will be eyeing up the Bailey’s Iced Yule Log for £12.

It features mouthwatering Baileys salted caramel mousse, a dark chocolate sauce and chocolate flavoured meringue.

And you can nab their Luxury Prawn and Prosecco Shells for as little as £5.

The king prawns come in a creamy Prosecco sauce topped with mashed potato, a parsley breadcrumb and cheese, served in a natural shell.

Other festive finds

Iceland aren’t the only retailer to have revealed their Christmas food range recently either.

M&S have revealed all the festive treats that you can get through from its Christmas Food to Order range from today.

The posh supermarket is famous for its delicious Christmas food, which you’ll be able to pre-order to your home ahead of the big day.

In fact, major supermarkets have just revealed the exact dates you can book Christmas delivery slots, including Asda.

We tried the M&S Christmas collection too including their iconic American must-have and Marmite caramel sauce.

We also recently tried Morrisons new Christmas range and one festive treat was an instant winner, knocking M&S and Waitrose out the park.

Morrisons festive nosh is expected to land in its 497 stores over the coming weeks.

And if you’re after your classic chocolate tubs, we’ve calculated the cheapest supermarket to grab all your favourites this week.

Tesco Mobile, EE, Vodafone, Sky Mobile, O2 and Three all have different policy when it comes to how much customers pay when using their mobiles in the EU post-Brexit

Tesco Mobile has extended its free-roaming policy so customers can use their minutes, texts and data for no extra cost when in Europe.

Since leaving the EU, people living in the UK have been excluded from the bloc’s 2022 Roaming Regulations, which ban mobile operators from charging customers extra when they travel into other EU countries with their phone.

While some providers have allowed their customers to keep the perk, others have started charging considerable sums. Today, Tesco Mobile announced that it will not charge its users extra for texts, calls, and data made across 48 EU destinations “into 2026 and beyond.” Until this point, Tesco Mobile had hinted that the perk would end at the beginning of next year.

Laura Joseph, chief customer officer at Tesco Mobile, said: “We know how important it is for families to stay connected—whether you’re sharing holiday snaps, checking in with loved ones, or finding your way around a new city. That’s why we’re proud to extend our roaming offer, giving customers the freedom to use their UK data, minutes, and texts across 48 destinations in the EU and beyond, at no extra cost. With no setup, no hidden fees, and no stress, it’s one less thing to worry about when you’re away.”

Here is a rundown of the other major mobile providers in the UK and how much they charge for roaming in EU countries.

Under EE you can use your minutes, texts and data allowances in its European roaming zone – which includes most countries on the Continent – for £2.50 a day (up until midnight UK-time). You don’t need to do anything to opt in. If you use your allowances you’ll pay £2.50 for that day, and if you don’t, you won’t be charged anything. You can also buy a £10 ‘roam home’ seven day package.

The phone company offers free data roaming in the EU, so your data (subject to roaming limit), minutes and text allowances will work in the Europe Zone, just like they do at home.

If your UK monthly data allowance is over 25GB, you’ll have a roaming limit of 25GB when roaming in the firm’s Europe Zone. This means you can use up to 25GB of your allowance at no extra cost. O2 sends customers a text if they’re getting close to the limit, and again if they reach it. Then they can buy a ‘bolt on’.

For Pay Monthly customers, it’s a daily charge of £7 per day for unlimited calls, texts and date. For Pay As You Go customers, it’s a daily charge of £1.99.

Those customers whose plans started on or after October 1, 2021 can unlock their data, call and text for a daily roaming charge. For Pay Monthly customers, roaming costs £2 a day in Europe and £5 a day in Go Roam Around the World destinations. The Republic of Ireland and the Isle of Man are excluded from the daily roaming charge.

If you’re on a Three Your Way plan, it comes with up to 56 days of roaming included. If you run out – or you’re on a Standard plan – you can also buy three, seven, or 14-day Go Roam Passes. With a £5 a day Data Passport, you can get unlimited data to use when roaming.

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If your plan doesn’t have inclusive roaming in the firm’s Europe Zone – which includes all European countries other than Ireland, the Isle of Man, Iceland and Norway – then it will cost you £2.57 a day to roam. You can reduce this cost with a European Roaming pass, available as £15 for eight days or £20 for 15 days (a cost increase of roughly 25% in two years)

A day starts from the time when roaming is detected and lasts for 24 hours. For example, if roaming is detected at 10am, the daily roaming fee would be valid until 10am the next day. If you bought your plan before 11 August 2021, roaming is included up to 25GB of data usage.

‘Roam Like Home’ is available to all BT Mobile customers at no extra cost. It lets you to use your minutes, texts and data allowances within our Roam Like Home zones without paying extra roaming charges.

From 15 June 2017, if your plan gives you 20GB or more of data each month, a surcharge may be applied if you use more than 15GB, while roaming, in one billing cycle.

GiffGaff has one of the most generous policies out there. The company’s plans can be used in the EU and selected destinations just as customers would use them at home and at no extra cost. If you opt to pay as you go and use credit instead, data, calls and texts will be charged at the firm’s pay-as-you-go UK rates while you roam in the EU.

There’s a fair use limit on data of 5GB. If you go over it’ll cost 10p/MB, or you can start a new plan early which will give you another 5GB allowance.

The company has a roaming passport which costs £2 a day and lets you access your UK data, calls and text allowances in over 55 popular holiday destinations, including the EU, the USA and Australia and more.

TESCO has launched a range of “restaurant quality” ready-made meals across 160 of its stores around the country.

There are 12 different dishes included in the collection, for a different meal to be had each day of the week.

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The brand new Finest Chef’s Collection range has been designed by Tesco’s in-house chefs.

It includes slow-cooked meals ranging from Italian to Indian cuisine, as well as classic British flavours.

Prices range from £17.50 to £20 per dish.

Among the British-inspired dishes include a Blush Double Pork Chop a Tender Lamb Rump, Balsamic and Rosemary Lamb Shoulder, Succulent Pork Belly, and an Oak Smoked Chicken Crown.

Indian flavours in the collection include Tandoori Spiced Chicken Supremes, Masala Spcied Beef Cheeks, and Spice Lamb Shanks.

The chicken and beef have masala spice blends in the sauce, while the lamb shanks are served with green tikka sauce.

For the Italian inspired dishes, there is a Blush Shoulder of Pork, Stuffed Beef Featherblad with a Procini and Parmigiano Regiiano stuffing, Nduja Stuffed Porchetta, and Rosemary and Porcini Pork Shoulder.

Breige Donaghy, Director of Product Development and Innovation Tesco, said: “We know life’s busy, but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on amazing food at home.

“That’s why our chefs have created the Chef’s Collection – a range of dishes inspired by restaurant menus and packed with clever techniques that make it super easy to cook something special.

“With top-quality ingredients, and most of the prep already done, these dishes make it easy to create special food moments and transform a meal at home into something truly memorable.”

It comes after research found almost 30 per cent of Brits, and around 60 per cent of adults, have tried to pass of supermarket-cooked meals as their own.

More people have also been found to be going out less to restaurants to eat compared to last year, often due to costs.

Executive Chief at Tesco, Jamie Robinson, added: “We’ve worked hard to bring authentic flavours from across the globe to customers’ kitchens without the stress of cooking from scratch.

“Most dishes have been gently slow cooked, and come with our top cooking, pairing and plating tips to help you deliver great results every time.”

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Each meal is designed as a main for two people, therefore costing £10 each.

The Finest Chef’s Collection range is launching at larger Tesco stores, and offers a 25 per cent discount of Clubcard customers until October 12.

Dishes come with step-by-step cooking instructions and a QR code that can be scanned to provide cooking, plating and pairing tips from Tesco chefs.

It comes after Tesco was mocked for launching a strange meal deal shoppers spotted in stores.

As a £9 Clubcard offer, Tesco launched a meal deal consisting of a 12-packl of Sol beers and a bag of five limes.

Many shoppers also threatened to boycott Tesco last month after it was seen increasing the price of its meal deal by 25p.

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SAINSBURY’S has launched its “biggest ever” giveaway with up to £7,500 worth of Nectar points up for grabs.

This equates to a huge two million Nectar points being given away for a shop.

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The supermarket giant has teamed up with frozen foods brand Birds Eye to deliver the prizes, as well as special prices of products.

From now until October 7, shoppers can scan their Nectar card or app to enter the prize draw if they pick yup any Birds Eye product at a Sainsbury’s.

One winner will receive one million Nectar points, which are worth at least £5,000.

And two winners will get 500,000 points each, worth at least £2,500.

There are also some family dinner classics from Birds Eye that have been put on special Nectar prices.

Chicken Dippers can now be picked up for £2.50, and Fish Fingers for just £1.50.

This is possibly most Nectar points ever seen in the frozen aisle, making it a perfect time to stock up the freezer for the autumn.

Shoppers who scan any Birds Eye product with their Nectar card at Sainsbury’s will automatically be entered into the prize draw.

And every transaction counts for entries.

Winners will be draw at random and contacted within 28 days of the closing date.

Sainsbury’s has also recently been seen slashing the prices on dozens of its chocolates as part of an “amazing” offer.

Several Cadbury’s chocolates in the supermarket were slashed to under £1, with Twirl bites reaching just 97p.

The sale is lasting until Sunday, September 21 and is only being offered to Nectar card holders.

Sainsbury’s recently made a huge change to its Nectar loyalty schemes earlier in the year.

It made personalised ‘Your Nectar Prices‘ available for shoppers for the first time in July.

The scheme has allowed customers to earn points when they shop, which can be turned into money off vouchers.

Previously, the discounts were only available for online orders or through the Smart Shop app or handset in-store.

Now shoppers can enjoy these discounts at the tills by simply scanning their Nectar card.

Discounts are known to refresh every Friday, giving customers regular opportunities to save on essentials and discover new favourites.

IF you’re already planning ahead for the festive season, you can nab a huge saving on Christmas chocolate right now.

A bargain UK supermarket is selling 25p Cadbury’s selection boxes for £2.50 cheaper than a rival store.

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The bargain comes after news that struggling Poundland is going back to basics, with plans to increase the number of products sold in store for just a quid.

The Cadbury’s 25p selection box weighs in at 125g and includes a selection of favourite treats.

This includes Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Freddo Caramel, Fudge, Crunchie,, Dairy Milk Little Bar, Treatsize Buttons and a Wispa.

An identical selection box is on sale at Iceland‘s for £2,50.

But you will have to pop into your local Poundland to pick up the bargain as Poundland‘s website is now for browsing only.

A statement on the site reads: “We’re currently working very hard behind the scenes to simplify and refocus our stores.

“And that means very soon there’ll be even more ranges at £1 and new items to choose from each week.

“Unfortunately, we will no longer be providing an online delivery service from the 16th September 2025.

“While we know most of our online shoppers also visit us regularly in stores (thank you!), we know this will be disappointing to all who’ve been using our online ordering service.”

Cheapest UK supermarket to buy Christmas chocolate tubs

Whether you’re indulging in the festive treats ahead of time or you’re stocking up for your friends, family, and co-workers, this deal offers impressive savings.

The offer comes after Morrisons slashed the price of a variety of chocolate tubs from £7 to just £4.50.

Now, Tesco is giving shoppers a chance match this price, with some tubs reduced right now.

Clubcard holders can avail of significant savings with tubs of Cadbury’s Heroes and Roses reduced to just £5.25.

Nestle Celebrations and Quality Street are also available for just £4.50.

Sainsbury’s slashes the price of Cadbury favourites starting today

Supermarkets often watch each other’s sales and try to price match especially in the lead up to Christmas.

And Sainsbury’s is slashing the price of Cadbury favourites for five days only starting today.

The promotion will take the price of Heroes and Roses tubs down from £7 to £4.50 – perfect for anyone looking to stock up ahead of the festive season.

A large box of Milk Tray will see its cost halve from £11 to £5.50

And pouches including Cadbury giant buttons, crunchie rocks, oreo bites, twirl bites, will fall from £1.95 to 97p.

Large 90g bars of Cadbury Dairy Milk will drop from £2.20 to £1.50.

The discounted prices take effect from Wednesday September 17 and will last until Sunday September 21.

However, they are only available to Nectar account holders, so you’ll need to sign up for the loyalty scheme if you are not already a member.

A MAJOR supermarket is selling McVitie’s biscuit boxes for just £2.50 ahead of this Christmas season.

The 400g boxes include a selection of family favourites to get in the festive spirit.

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McVitie’s Family Circle Biscuit Selection boxes are available cheapest at Iceland for just £2.50.

What is included

There are ten different biscuits to choose from in this selection box, including the iconic Milk Chocolate Digestives, popular Custard Creams, and much-loved Rich Highland Shorties.

Also included in the boxes are McVitie’s Choc Chip Cookies, Shortcake, Jam Sandwich Creams, Milk Chocolate Fingers, Crunchy Oat, Nice, and Bourbon Creams.

Shoppers’ reactions

Iceland customers have raved about the product in reviews.

One wrote: “These biscuits have always been Christmas specials.

“There is a good selection of biscuits included.

“And they are great tasting …love them for a treat with a cup of tea or coffee.”

Another added: “Includes chocolate ones and most usual ones.”

“Not really any new ones.”

Both gave the biscuit selection an overall rating of four stars.

Sainsbury’s and Occado are also seen selling the McVitie’s boxes, but for £4.

And Morrisons has them on sale for £3.

More Christmas boxes

Quality Street chocolates and celebrations are also popular Christmas boxes that have been seen going for cheap recently.

At Morrisons, tubs were seen going for just £4.50 from the discount retailer.

And Lidl and Aldi are also known for providing the best deals of groceries, another major UK retailer was found to have the cheapest rate on chocolate boxes.

This week, Tesco took the crown for best overral rates on Christmas chocolate.

Tesco Clubcard holders are able to pick up Nestle Celebrations and Quality Street for £4.50, while Cadbury’s Heroes and Roses have been reduced to £5.25.

A POPULAR UK supermarket has recalled two of its products over fears they could cause an E.coli outbreak.

Customers have been warned not to eat either of the products after it was discovered they may contain Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC).

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Fears have been sparked that the contaminated products could spark an outbreak of the potentially deadly disease.

Customers could suffer serious symptoms including diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea if they consume the product.

The Shiga toxin-producing E.coli could also cause haemolytic uremic syndrome – a serious condition that can lead to kidney failure and can be fatal.

Anyone who has purchased JS Classic Houmous and JS Lemon & Coriander Houmous is being warned not to eat them.

Customers who have bought the contaminated products are asked to return them to the point of sale urgently.

Full refunds will be handed out to customers who bring back the potentially harmful humus.

Sainsbury’s is putting up in store notices to explain the recall to customers.

A notice issued by the The Food Standards Agency reads: “Sainsbury’s has taken the precautionary step of recalling JS Classic Houmous and JS Lemon & Coriander Houmous because these products may contain Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC).

“If you have bought any of the above products do not eat them. Instead, return them to the store from where they were bought for a full refund.”

SHOPPERS are raving about a unique “soup in a bottle” which is now available in four new flavours at Tesco for just £2.

The microwavable bottles, which are ideal for on the go meals, have landed on the major supermarket’s shelves – and cost an absolute bargain.

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Made from natural ingredients with no additives, Re:Nourish’s new flavours of heat-and-sip bottles are bound to make your mouth water.

The brand is releasing Classic Roast Chicken, Chicken & Vegetable, Pea, Leek & Watercress, and Roasted Carrot & Ginger.

These brand new flavours are now available on shelves as part of the brand’s nationwide launch into Tesco.

Nourish said their new soups are designed to “fuel, comfort, and nourish on the go”.

Founder and CEO of Re:Nourish Nicci Clark said: “We started Re:Nourish to make fresh soup exciting again – functional, portable, and genuinely good for you.

“Launching into Tesco with four brand new flavours is an incredible milestone.

“It means more people can grab our bottles on the go and nourish themselves anytime, anywhere.”

Re:Nourish soups are gluten-free with no additives, preservatives or added sugar.

They come in fully recyclable bottles that can go straight in the microwave – and you can sip straight from the pack.

The brand was set up by former nurse turned entrepreneur Nicci Clark.

The company is now the UK’s fastest-growing fresh soup brand, sold in supermarkets nationwide.

Re:Nourish says it wants to make soup healthy, handy and fashionable again.

The brand’s products are currently available at Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado, Wholefoods, Amazon Fresh and Planet Organic.

They said: “Launching in 789 Tesco stores earlier this week was a huge win for us!”

The bottled soup items will also be hitting shelves in Morrisons later this month, as well as further Sainsbury’s stores across the country.

The brand’s soups are typically priced at £3 a bottle, which is dependent on each shop.

However, for the month of September, Tesco shoppers can get Re:Nourish soups for just £2 as long as they have a Tesco Clubcard.

In the last few weeks, their products have also been available for £2.50 with a Nectar card in Sainsbury’s.

The brand say they are “absolutely one of a kind” with their microwavable bottle.

The soup-maker says: “All you have to do is loosen the cap, stick it in the microwave for 3.5 minutes, and enjoy!

“The bottle helps keep your soup warmer for longer, and it’s fully recyclable and made using BPA-free plastic.”

The products are aimed at people who have little time to cook for themselves, but also want to stay health-conscious.

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OUR wardrobes are stuffed with 1.6billion unworn clothes.

So it is best for the planet — and your bank balance — to stop buying new and instead swap your old stuff for other people’s cast-offs.

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During Second Hand September, Oxfam is encouraging people to hunt down a bargain and find unique pieces that will make you stand out from the crowd.

TREASURE HUNT: Trawling high street charity shops is a great way to spot a gem.

Abi Owen, online shop merchandiser for Oxfam, says: “Charity shops are full of wonderful, unique finds, so it’s worth having an open mind to see what might catch your eye.

“As autumn begins, timeless items such as cable-knit jumpers and checked shirts are the perfect pre-loved find.”

WONDERS ON THE WEB: If you can’t get to a second-hand shop, or you have something specific in mind, look online.

Lose yourself on Vinted or eBay and, to support a good cause, search for charity shops on the internet. Many also have their own online shops.

SEPTEMBER SURPRISES: At Oxfam’s online store (onlineshop.oxfam.org.uk) you can narrow your search by price, size or designer.

We found Ralph Lauren sunglasses for under £9.99, a Tommy Hilfiger jumpsuit for £12.99 and a wedding dress for £30.

During Second Hand September, there is also a range of offers, including free delivery until Tuesday and ten per cent off when signing up for Oxfam’s newsletter.

BEST BUYS: Make the most of your money and bag a second-hand bargain that you will wear lots of times.

Denim will never go out of fashion and is stacked up in charity shops.

Abi says: “Whether it is a pair of jeans or a classic jacket, they are perfect for styling up or down.

“Plus, they’re better when they’ve been worn in.

“Accessories are a brilliant second-hand item to shop for, too. A good belt or some gorgeous earrings can complete a look.

“Keep your eyes peeled for details like a tartan scarf to pull an outfit together.”

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• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability

Deal of the day

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KIDS will go loopy for the Hot Wheels Track Creator Triple Loop Speed Kit, reduced from £40.98 to £30.98 at direct.asda.com.

SAVE: £10

Cheap treat

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ENJOY a cheeky nibble with Morrisons milk chocolate digestives, 300g, down from £1.25 to 89p.

SAVE: 36p

What’s new?

THRILL-SEEKING grannies and grandads can enjoy the rides at Drayton Manor for free this weekend.

The Staffordshire theme park is giving free entry to over-70s until Monday.

Top swap

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CHEESE Louise!

Snack on a six-pack of Quavers, £2.13 from Asda, working out at 36p for a 16g bag.

Or enjoy the store’s own Cheesy Curls six-pack, £1.25, or 21p for a 16g bag.

SAVE: 15p per bag

Little helper

COTE Brasserie is offering a different “icon” dish for £10 each week day when you say “I’m an Icon” to staff.

Save the most on Thursdays when the beef bourguignon, usually £21.95, is a tenner.

Shop & save

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GET tea sorted for less with Young’s Gastro two tempura battered fish fillets, down from £5.25 to £2.50, with a Tesco Clubcard.

SAVE: £2.75

Hot right now

IKEA Family members can get a small cooked breakfast for £1 or regular one for £1.50 on Saturdays until 11am. Save up to £2.35.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

WITH the chilly season well and truly here, many retailers have been launching new autumn stock.

But it looks like Tesco might have to remove an item after one eagle-eyed mum spotted a spelling mistake on their kid’s clothing.

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The error was picked up by mother-of-three Rebecca Jeffs, from Northamptonshire, who took to TikTok to tag the popular supermarket.

According to Rebbeca, who posts under the username @rebeccaanicole_x, she stumbled across an adorable autumn-themed two-piece whilst shopping at Tesco.

The cosy co-ord consisted of comfy joggers, as well as a matching cream sweatshirt with a pumpkin design.

On the front side there was a little pumpkin, as well as a sticker that said ”Look at my back”, urging customers to check out the rest of the design.

However, what the major retailer clearly didn’t realise is the spelling mistake they’d missed during the printing process.

Sharing the epic blunder on social media, the mum-of-three said in the video: ”The cutest outfit but turns out it has a mistake.

”Didn’t even notice. If anyone’s picked this up, has yours got this mistake?!” Rebecca wondered in the caption where she also tagged the retailer.

As well as having several adorable pumpkins printed on the back of the cosy sweatshirt, there was also text in a bold fond that was supposed to read as ”best little pumpkin picker”.

While at first glance the text looks absolutely fine, there is a letter missing – and dozens of social media users admitted it took them a while to spot it.

One TikToker commented: ”The dyslexia in me didn’t spot a mistake, I had to look in the comments to see what was wrong.”

”Genuinely thought for a second the mistake was it was beige and who takes there kid pumpkin picking in a beige outfit,” another joked.

A fellow mum said: ”I got this for my girl the other day i didn’t even realise.”

”What’s the mistake?” someone else was struggling to spot the missing letter.

Are you still looking at the text and everything looks like it should?

”It says best lttle instead of best little. It took me an embarrassingly long time to work it out,” one of the 250k viewers finally figured it out.

”Maybe nobody will really notice as took a lot of us ages to realise,” a shopper joked.

Want to test your eyesight even more? Earlier this year, Primark shoppers spotted a ‘‘spelling mistake’’ on new Rita Ora top – and you can’t unsee it.

Fashion fans were also gasping as Matalan launched an £18 jumper with glaring spelling mistake.

APPLES are ripening and tumbling from branches across gardens and hedgerows.

Or you may find that generous neighbours or friends with apple trees are offering the fruit for free.

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Here’s how to make the most of the harvest . . . 

APPLE STORE: Apples are often stored in fruit bowls, but they will last longer in the fridge.

The fruit also emits a gas that can speed up the ripening of other produce such as oranges, giving another reason to keep them separated.

NICELY PUDD: Apple pie or crumble is the perfect autumnal dessert. Crumbles are slightly quicker to make and great with kids. Use the following recipe from Tesco. Peel and core and cut three or four cooking apples into chunks.

Pop the fruit in a saucepan with two tablespoons of caster sugar, and two tablespoons of water, cooking until the apples have softened.

If you have a glut of apples, you could prepare double or triple the mix and freeze portions for using at a later date.

Pop in a greased ovenproof dish. Then mix 110g of self-raising flour, 40g of demerara sugar, 40g of diced salted, butter and two tablespoons of rolled oats in a bowl until it’s breadcrumb texture.

Add to the apple mix before baking for around 45minutes until golden.

GO DRY: Dried apples are a great healthy snack — perfect for lunchboxes.

Slice the apples thinly and bake for a few hours on a low heat.

The longer you leave them in, the crispier they become. Then store in an air-tight container.

JUICE IT: Use apples to make a delicious juice without a juicer. Start by chopping and deseeding three or four apples.

Boil and cover with around 120ml of water until the apples are soft and mushy.

Line a colander with muslin cloth and put over a bowl before pouring in the cooled mixture.

Press down on the mixture and let the bowl collect the juice. You can then add honey or lemon juice to taste.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability

Deal of the day

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EVERY kitchen needs some reliable tools. The Tefal stone force frying pan is down from £32 to £16 at Sainsbury’s.

SAVE: £16

Cheap treat

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CURE a hunger craving with this Ginsters large sausage roll, £1, from Waitrose.

What’s new?

DOMINOS has launched an ultimate Indian range of pizzas, including gunpowder chicken, and masala paneer, £25.99 each.

Top swap

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PICK up the pace with Asics novablast 5 running trainers, £134.50 from the sportsedit.com.

Or hit your goals with these trainers, £14.99 in Aldi from today.

SAVE: £119.51

Little helper

UNTIL the end of September, buy any spa break at Champneys resorts and you can take a friend along for just £25.

Shop & save

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GIVE your skin top coverage with Estee Lauder double wear foundation, down from £39.50 to £16.98 at asos.com.

SAVE: £22.52

Hot right now

CO-OP members can get its Irresistible prosecco for £6.50, saving £2.20, until September 23.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

PRET A Manger is set to launch meal deals in a bid to take on major supermarkets, which have been offering them for years.

The high street sandwich chain’s move comes after Tesco and Sainsbury’s hiked their prices on lunchtime meal deals.

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Pret plans to trial the meal deal format in the final three months of the year.

Boss Pano Christou said the chain’s focus is on “offering great value for money” as part of its medium-term strategy to grow and return to sustainable profits.

Details on pricing and locations for the trial have yet to be revealed.

While major supermarkets have long offered meal deals – typically including a sandwich, snack and drink – Tesco recently hiked its price by 25p, blaming ongoing food inflation.

Pret’s latest accounts showed a pre-tax loss of £525.2 million for the year to January 2 – largely due to a £552.9 million write-down after a reassessment by owner JAB, which bought the chain in 2018.

This followed a £61.7 million loss the year before.

Despite the losses, Pret said its earnings before adjustments rose 36 per cent to £98 million for the year.

Meanwhile, total revenue dipped 4.2 per cent to £868.4 million compared to the previous year.

Like-for-like sales grew by 2.8 per cent, helped by an 11 per cent expansion to 717 shops as the business continued to grow internationally.

Pret said it is keen to expand further in the US, especially around city centres and travel hubs.

Christou, Pret’s CEO, said: “2024 was another year of growth for Pret, where we took disciplined decisions to protect sales, despite intense strains on the hospitality industry.

“Going forward our priority will be to drive transactions and sustainable growth by offering great value for money for Pret customers.

“Our focus will be on growing Pret’s market share in the UK and internationally, prioritising city centres and travel hubs, backed by the experience and expertise of additional world-class board members and a strengthened management team.”

Pret opened its first shop in London in 1986 and now employs 12,500 staff across over 700 locations in 21 countries.

Christou, who has been the chain’s CEO since 2019, started out as an assistant manager at a central London branch aged 22.

The minicab driver’s son, now 45, grew up in Tooting, South London – and earns over £400,000 a year.

The Luxembourg-based firm JAB Holding – which also owns Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Keurig Dr Pepper – bought Pret for £1.5 billion in 2018.

But the pandemic hit hard, with the chain posting a £343 million loss in 2020 as its key customers – office workers and commuters – stayed home.

To win them back, Pret launched cut-priced food and coffee subscription services, which helped sales jump 20 per cent in 2023.

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CELEBRATIONS have made a huge change to tubs ahead of Christmas – and customers will not be happy.

Chocolate maker Mars has once again slashed the size of its iconic red tub from 550g to 500g – equal to a reduction of around five sweets.

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The festive staple is being rolled out of supermarkets ahead of the big day.

Asda is selling the shrunken chocolates for £5.64, with Morrisons and Sainsbury’s charging £7.

The UK’s biggest supermarket is still selling off the larger 550g tubs for £7 or £4.50 on Clubcard price.

It marks the second year in a row the confectionery giant has slimmed down the festive treat.

Last Christmas, the tubs featuring miniature pieces of Twix, Milkyway and Bounty, were reduced in size from 600g to 550g.

The Sun has approached Mars for comment.

At the time, Mars blamed the rising costs of raw materials and operations.

Global cocoa prices are still under pressure due to poor harvests caused by adverse weather in West Africa.

The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) reported a 43% jump in cocoa prices since 2022.

And Mars is not the only chocolate maker which is slimming down its chocolate tubs.

Quality Street maker Nestle has slashed the size of the purple tubs from 600g to 550g.

The new purple tubs have approximately 57 chocolates – down from 63.

A Nestlé spokesperson cited the cost of manufacturing, “ingredients and transport” for the cut.

Deal expert Tom Church previously told The Sun that the best way to beat size reductions was to look for cut-price deals, such as multi-buy offers in the supermarkets or Nectar and Clubcard prices.

Shrinking chocolate

All major manufacturers are shrinking the size of their treats to help combat rising material costs.

Last month it was discovered that Cadbury cut the size of multipacks of its Brunch bars from five to four.

Instead, a four-bar pack is now on shelves for the same average price of £1.50.

It means the bars – a staple of school lunchboxes – are, in effect, 20 per cent worse value.

Cadbury also reduced packs of Freddos from five to four and Cadbury Dairy Milk multipacks were cut from nine bars to seven.

More recently, the brand slashed the size of it’s Dairy Milk Little Bars multipacks by a third.

How to save money on chocolate

We all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don’t have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…

Go own brand – if you’re not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you’ll save by going for the supermarket’s own brand bars.

Shop around – if you’ve spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.

Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.

Look out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they’ve been reduced.

They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.

Buy bigger bars – most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.

So if you’ve got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.

Millom, nestled among Cumbrian mountains, might not be one of the country’s best-known towns, but it certainly left a lasting impression and very much shaped me as a person

Walking around the UK coastal town on the edge of the Lake District where he spent his childhood, a wave of nostalgia and sadness washed over Andrew Papworth.

The assistant editor of The Express was revisiting Millom, a small town nestled among Cumbrian mountains. It may not be well-known across the country, but it certainly left an indelible mark on Andrew.

He said: “As I retraced my steps from our family home in Seathwaite Close to the bottom of Lowther Road, I came across the infant school that gave me the very best start in life.

“Turning down St George’s Road, I passed Millom Park and the children’s play area, where I spent many hours as a boy. In the thriving town centre, I remembered my mum dragging me round the shops. Further along the road, close to the railway station, was The Bridge Cafe, where I used to pop in for sweets on my walk home from Black Combe Junior School.

“Millom was – and is – only a small town, but as a child it felt like my entire universe. In many ways it was, because like any quintessentially English town, it had everything you needed on your doorstep.”

Established around its ironworks in the 1800s before their closure in the 1960s, Millom boasted a strong sense of pride and community. Everyone seemed to know everyone, and there was a palpable sense of camaraderie, reports the Express.

Andrew said: “It looked exactly the same as when I left in 1995, aged nine, and when I last visited in 2005. And while that brought back many nostalgic memories, it also broke my heart.

“It appears that little investment has been made in Millom since then, whether in new homes, shops or community facilities.

“All I noticed was that the old Safeway is now a Tesco, and many of the shops that had such a strong presence seem to have long gone.”

Chatting to locals, one of their first comments is often about the lack of financial input into their area.

Andrew said: “It’s a great sadness. By contrast, Canary Wharf in east London, where I now work, didn’t even exist when I was born but has been steadily transformed from barren wasteland into the bustling heart of London’s financial district.

“Of course it’s not really an even comparison, but it feels desperately unfair that some areas of the country have had millions and billions of pounds of investment while a town with such a rich and vibrant history has barely been given a thought.”

There are other potential factors at play. The historic shipyard in nearby Barrow-in-Furness was a significant employer for Millom workers.

The loss of 10,000 jobs in the 1990s must have had a profound effect.

Cumbria didn’t have a university until 2007 and for years, many saw the shipyard and Sellafield nuclear power station, now being decommissioned, as the only major career paths. Many dreaming of different lives must have surely packed up and left.

Millom’s location on the north-west coast also makes the town more challenging to access.

But if we can channel investment into even the most disadvantaged corners of this nation, surely we can achieve it in a town blessed with such incredible natural beauty.

Where Millom has undeniably thrived is in its community spirit, which burns as brightly as ever.

During Andrew’s visit on a glorious Monday afternoon, he chatted to Nicola Armstrong, proprietor of The Bloom Room on St George’s Terrace since 2012. Hers is an extraordinary story of triumph – a completely self-taught florist who’s scooped national accolades and showcased at London exhibitions.

“From a tiny little town, I’ve gone to a lot of places,” she says – but she never overlooks one of the major factors behind her achievements.

“I wouldn’t have got where I am without this community,” she reveals. “They’re my biggest cheerleaders.”

Throughout his stay, Andrew also encountered Coordination Group Publishing (CGP), whose vibrant and amusing study guides he relied upon during his GCSEs and A levels. It remains one of Britain’s premier educational publishers.

Whilst shops have shuttered, one that has persevered is Ferguson’s, which has been a reliable fixture in Millom for 70 years. Proprietor Arthur Ferguson celebrated his 100th birthday this year and is thought to be Britain’s eldest shopkeeper.

Andrew said: “While I was in Cumbria, I also visited Barrow to see its dramatic transformation as it builds the next generation of nuclear submarines and becomes the beating heart of Britain’s defence.

“I only hope some of the £220million of government funding going into that regeneration for the national endeavour will benefit Millom, even if only indirectly, because this small town and its people deserve only the best.

“Whatever happens in the future, I know that if I come back in another 30 years, Millom’s soul will remain as strong as ever.”