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Style queen Nicky Hambleton-Jones, former presenter of the Channel 4 show, 10 Years Younger, and author of a new book, Bolder Not Older, tells Natalie Clarke that the celebrity fad for hanging Labubus off designer bags is not only childish, but a style crime…
The latest must-have fashion item among A-listers isn’t a Hermes Birkin handbag, Gucci belt or Cartier watch. No, it’s a tacky little monster that you can buy for 20 quid.
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I’m talking about Labubus. If you haven’t heard of them, prepare to find them on your child’s Christmas wish list.
And when I say child, I mean grown-up child, as it’s adults who are jumping on this weird, juvenile trend.
I’ll say it, I hate Labubus. Of all the bag charms out there, they’ve got to be the worst. I think they are ugly, really, really ugly. And because they’re so ugly they’re noticeable, right?
It’s a fad, of course, feeding the demand for plastic tat.
Like with most trends, celebrities are fuelling it.
The celebrity who seems to have started it all is Lisa, one of the band members from South Korean girl group Blackpink.
She has a Labubu hanging off her Louis Vuitton bag.
She recently wore a Labubu-themed outfit on stage and is so mad on Labubus it’s been said she has become Labubu — whatever that means.
Then we’ve got Rihanna, who has also been seen with Labubus on her Louis Vuitton bag.
Dua Lipa has put grey and pink Labubus on a designer red bag.
Lady Gaga had one custom made, a Labubu with a red outfit that matched her outfit from her Abracadabra music video.
She put the Labubu on her black Hermes bag.
Even Cher has been seen out and about with the childish charm hanging off her bag.
Reality TV stars love them too — from Kim Kardashian to Gemma Collins and Olivia Attwood.
Olivia had a Labubu-themed birthday party in May where she bought the dolls for each of her 100 guests.
They’re everywhere — hanging off designer bags which are meant to be discreet and understated, quiet luxury.
Labubus are juvenile and gauche.
Putting these ghastly charms on covetable luxury goes against everything designer labels represent.
My kids find their faces quite scary, it’s not something they want in their bedroom
Natalie
The Labubu is the complete opposite of the aesthetic a designer bag represents.
It kills the luxury element, and some of these celebrities have so many Labubus you can’t even see the handbag due to the visual clutter.
I beg, please take them off!
Labubus are for kids — and if your child is under the age of 18 and asking for one for Christmas, then fair play, I guess.
But children don’t seem to be jumping on this bandwagon as much as adults.
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My kids find their faces quite scary, it’s not something they want in their bedroom.
These things are menacing-looking plushy toys with strange, pointy teeth and rabbit ears.
The character was created by Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-born illustrator, in 2015.
It was one of a number of characters called The Monsters who featured in his graphic novels.
Labubu is a kind but mischievous elf who lives in a mythical forest.
She is well-meaning but has an unfortunate habit of getting into trouble.
In 2019 the Chinese company Pop Mart began selling Labubu and the other Monsters online, but it was Labubu who, for some reason, grabbed everyone’s attention.
There are lots of versions, sold as a series, such as the Big Into Energy, Coca-Cola and Lazy Yoga series.
Often, you don’t know which Labubu is inside the box when you buy it, so there is an element of surprise.
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And, of course, they have become collectables.
You can pick one up from Pop Mart from around £16, with prices ranging up to about £80 or so, but they sell out quickly and people will resell them for hundreds of pounds.
It’s trendy, it’s the new hot thing. It’s very clever. People go crazy for them.
In May, a fight broke out among customers at Pop Mart’s store at Westfield shopping centre in Stratford, East London, and the retailer removed the toys from all 16 of its shops until June “to prevent any potential safety issues”.
There’s nothing charming about these little gremlins
Natalie
My issue with celebrities wearing them as part of their outfits is that they are doing it to jump on the hype — possibly for social media likes — and they are fuelling this frenzy around cheap plastic tat.
The socialite Paris Hilton was photographed giving Labubus to her children.
Even Paris’s mum Kathy has one! And David Beckham posted a picture of a brown Labubu which his daughter Harper bought him.
Now ordinary people who can’t afford a Birkin are buying a Labubu to get a piece of the celebrity lifestyle — it’s a statement accessory that most people can afford.
But it kills the idea of quality, of good fabric and conscious shopping.
If you can’t get hold of a Labubu, you can easily buy a counterfeit, a Lafufu, for as little as £2.50.
These dupes are almost as popular as the real thing, but can be dangerous for kids, as they might not have been through the same safety checks.
There’s no escaping them. They should be locked up in kids’ bedrooms, not displayed on the bags of grown adults.
The clue is in the name — bag charm.
But there’s nothing charming about these little gremlins.
I give it a year before all these Labubus are filling up landfill sites.
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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.
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.”
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.
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.
Shop the budget range
Savvy shopper Eilish Stout-Cairns recommends that shoppers grab items from Asda’s Just Essentials range.
She said: “Asda’s budget range is easy to spot as it’s bright yellow! Keep your eyes peeled for yellow and you’ll find their Just Essentials range.
“It’s great value and I’ve found it has a much wider selection of budget items compared to other supermarkets.
Sign up to Asda Rewards
The savvy-saver also presses on the importance of signing up to Asda’s reward scheme.
She said: “Asda Rewards is free to join and if you shop at Asda you should absolutely sign up.
“As an Asda Rewards member, you’ll get exclusive discounts and offers, and you’ll also be able to earn 10% cashback on Star Products.
“This will go straight into your cashpot, and once you’ve earned at least £1, you can transfer the money in your cashpot into ASDA vouchers.
We’ve previously rounded up the best supermarket loyalty schemes – including the ones that will save you the most money.
Look out for booze deals
Eilish always suggests that shoppers looking to buy booze look out for bargain deals.
She said: “Asda often has an alcohol offer on: buy six bottles and save 25%.
“The offer includes selected bottles with red, white and rose options, as well as prosecco. There are usually lots of popular bottles included, for example, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot and Freixenet Prosecco D.O.C.
“Obviously, the more expensive the bottles you choose, the more you save.”
Join Facebook groups
The savvy saver also recommends that fans of Asda join Facebook groups to keep in the know about the latest bargains in-store.
Eilish said: “I recommend joining the Latest Deals Facebook Group to find out about the latest deals and new launches in store.
“Every day, more than 250,000 deal hunters share their latest bargain finds and new releases.
“For example, recently a member shared a picture of Asda’s new Barbie range spotted in store.
“Another member shared the bargain outdoor plants she picked up, including roses for 47p, blackcurrant bushes for 14p and topiary trees for 14p.”
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PAYING close attention to your boiler can help you cut down on your energy bills.
In fact, one small change can save UK households up to £200 this winter.
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Experts have advised UK residents to take a closer look at their boiler dials before the winter weather sets in.
According to the pros, a simple adjustment could cut annual energy bills by as much as £200.
Boiler specialists at Your NRG, the UK’s leading independent fuel distributor, shared their expertise.
They explained that many families are paying more than necessary because their central heating flow temperature is set too high.
Around 80% of UK homes use a combi boiler, which heats water directly from the mains without a storage tank.
However, most homeowners do not realise that the flow temperature, which is the temperature of water circulating through radiators, is often set unnecessarily high.
Locating the dial that controls this and reducing the setting from 75-80 degrees celcius, down to around 60 degrees can improve efficiency.
This will help to lower your bills by up to 8%, which could represent savings of around £200 a year for the average household.
But make sure you’re turning the correct dial and not confusing the flow temperature dial with the hot water temperature dial, which controls water used in taps and showers.
It is vital not to lower this dial as hot water must be stored at a minimum of 60 degrees to prevent the growth of legionella bacteria.
Adjustments should only be made to the dial marked with a radiator or thermometer symbol.
And for homes with heat-only or regular boilers that heat a separate hot water tank as well as the central heating, the advice differs.
These boilers often have only one dial, which should never be set below 60 degrees for safety reasons.
Adjusting the central heating flow temperature on most combi boilers only takes a few minutes.
Most models have a flap at the bottom to reveal the controls, and for boilers with a pointer rather than a digital display, setting it to the 12 o’clock position usually lowers the flow temperatures to 60 degrees.
Laura Court-Jones, Small Business Editor at Bionic shared her tips.
1. Turn your heating down by one degree
You probably won’t even notice this tiny temperature difference, but what you will notice is a saving on your energy bills as a result. Just taking your thermostat down a notch is a quick way to start saving fast. This one small action only takes seconds to carry out and could potentially slash your heating bills by £171.70.
2. Switch appliances and lights off
It sounds simple, but fully turning off appliances and lights that are not in use can reduce your energy bills, especially in winter. Turning off lights and appliances when they are not in use, can save you up to £20 a year on your energy bills
3. Install a smart meter
Smart meters are a great way to keep control over your energy use, largely because they allow you to see where and when your gas and electricity is being used.
4. Consider switching energy supplier
No matter how happy you are with your current energy supplier, they may not be providing you with the best deals, especially if you’ve let a fixed-rate contract expire without arranging a new one. If you haven’t browsed any alternative tariffs lately, then you may not be aware that there are better options out there.
Homeowners who are unsure are advised to ask a heating engineer to make the adjustment during the next service.
Plus, an £18 buy from The Range that will keep your whole family warm.
An energy expert broke down the top ways to keep your home warm this winter.
And a completely free way you can keep your house warm, and it only takes minutes.
A luxury gadget will cocoon you on winter nights, and only costs 4p to run.
We’ve rounded up the best heated throws to keep you cosy without racking up your energy bills.
A SAVVY entrepreneur ditched her boring desk job at ASOS and is now raking in as much as £56,000 in a single day.
Aimee Smale, has taken her fashion brand Odd Muse from a bedroom side hustle to a multi-million-pound empire.
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The twenty-eight year old has now cemented her place among luxury giants by flinging open the doors to her first UK flagship on London’s exclusive New Bond Street.
Just a few years ago, Aimee was slogging away in a £21,000-a-year admin role, feeling unfulfilled working from home during the pandemic.
But with a burning ambition, she started a clever side hustle, flogging £10 logos to Brits who’d started small businesses in lockdown.
Speaking candidly to Grace Beverley on the Working Hard, Hardly Working podcast, she revealed how the tenner-a-pop gig became a goldmine, saying: “I was making like 30 logos a day at one point.
“Finishing ASOS, closing my laptop, staying up all night to just make logos. But it got me £12,000 for Odd Muse.”
Aimee’s dream was to have her own fashion brand and so she began saving to start what would become her own fashion empire.
Aimee ploughed her entire side-hustle earnings into ordering the first batch of stock, admitting she was “almost arrogant” in her belief that it would be a roaring success.
She ordered 100 units of her now-iconic blazer, and her bold gamble paid off big time, selling out in days and breaking even instantly.
A significant moment for Odd Muse came when influencer Lorna Luxe purchased the blazer, leading to a massive surge in sales.
Aimee shared, “I remember saying to everyone – everyone would be like who do you want to wear your brand and I would say Lorna. Anyone in the world – Lorna.
“She literally bought it, put it on her story, and it changed the game for me.”
The success of the Ultimate Muse Blazer was followed by the launch of the Pearl Dress, which sold out within a minute.
The brand made over £100k in its first three months and is now a certified smash hit, turning over a whopping £5.2 million in 2023.
Aimee’s vision was to create timeless, luxury clothes that young women could actually afford, offering an alternative to the world of throwaway fast fashion.
She previously told The Sun: “I just remember thinking fashion when I left university aged 21 was fast fashion, which is all we can afford, and the luxury sector is unattainable.
“I just wanted to offer a fast fashion alternative and justify a price point that encouraged re-wearing and investing in your wardrobe.”
Now, Aimee has officially taken over one of the most prestigious shopping streets in the world, having opened her glitzy new store on October 3.
Despite her mega-success, she admitted on TikTok she still gets terrified no one will show up to her events, a fear that was quickly squashed when 2,000 eager fans turned up to a recent sample sale.
The fashion mogul revealed she was even warned against the bold move onto Bond Street.
“I was told no… I didn’t need to take on New Bond Street,” she said.
But Aimee was determined to create a space for her loyal fans, “inviting our community into a world luxury fashion previously didn’t think to invite them into.”
The shy girl from class is now the poster girl for her own business, using her relatable personality on TikTok to connect with thousands of customers worldwide.
She credits this authentic approach for building a massive community, with a staggering 60% of orders now coming from the US.
Meanwhile, the company’s permanent boutique in London’s Covent Garden celebrated its second anniversary back in March.
From her bedroom to Bond Street, Aimee’s incredible journey shows what can happen when you have a bit of northern grit and a brilliant idea.
As she puts it, seeing addresses from all over the world flooding in made her realise “Odd Muse was going to be something big.”
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VETS have revealed the eight dog breeds they’d never own – warning they may look cute, but each one can lead to “total heartbreak.”
The animal experts, who have treated thousands of pets over the years, said some popular breeds are plagued with painful health problems, short lifespans and sky-high vet bills.
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Dr. Cat is a vet based in the UK with over 35k followers on Instagram.
While Ben the Vet has gained 211k followers on TikTok.
They urged potential owners to think twice before buying certain dogs – no matter how adorable they look – saying love alone isn’t enough to keep them healthy.
The vets have revealed the eight breeds they’d never own themselves – and say fellow vets agree on at least two of them.
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First up is the German Shepherd.
Loyal and clever, yes — but the vets warned they can also be reactive, suspicious and anxious, making them “really challenging” to handle.
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Flat-faced breeds might look adorable, but these brachycephalic dogs often struggle with breathing problems and other anatomical issues.
They are healthier than others, but they’re prone to a whole host of problems – from spinal issues and skin conditions to eye troubles.
Ben said: “There are specimens of these dogs that are healthier than others, but they are so prone to so many issues.
“Spinal issues, skin problems, eye problems. The fact that over half of them have to have a caesarean to give birth is enough of an ethical issue for me to never want to have one. If you’re OK with that, that’s fine but for me personally it’s not very fair.”
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Super-smart and bursting with energy, working-line Border Collies need nonstop stimulation.
Without it, they can develop serious behavioural and mental health problems.
Cat said: “I just do not have enough time in my life to put into them to make sure they’re living their best lives with me.”
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Shar Peis come with a long list of health and behavioural problems.
Their wrinkles can cause skin and eye issues, and being in constant discomfort often makes them grumpy.
Ben said they are also prone to constant “skin problems and have tiny, narrow ear canals.
“Some can get so stressed that they even bite the staff.”
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Saint Bernards might look lovable – but their size comes with messy challenges.
Constant slobber and hygiene issues can make life pretty tricky for owners.
Cat revealed: “Quite honestly, I cannot cope with the slobber. I had a client once tell me that she had slobber on her ceilings.”
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Steer clear of Dachshunds because of the breed’s health issues.
They’re lovely dogs, but one in four develops back problems in their lifetime.
It can range from mild pain to complete paralysis, often requiring spinal surgery.
The recovery is long and Ben added, “there’s too much potential for heartbreak.”
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The super popular breed of family dog is known for their affection.
But almost all of King Charles Spaniels develop the same heart condition – mitral valve disease.
It means they often spend their final days “struggling to breathe and eventually die of heart failure.”
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Chow Chows can be tricky to manage and are known for a challenging temperament, especially in clinical settings.
They commonly suffer from “eye problems, they’re often aloof and not very friendly.”
Ben shared: “They’re often very aggressive at the vets, but it’s hard to fit a muzzle on their face.”
WITH winter approaching there’s a simple step you can take to attract robins to your garden.
Santa’s little helper will be drawn to your outdoor space with this budget buy.
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Adding this one plant to your garden will boost the wildlife, particularly robins.
As Britain’s favourite bird, robins provide ecological benefits to your space.
This includes acting as a natural pest controller and aiding in seed dispersal.
While you can try to attract these birds with food, providing nest material can also be a huge draw.
According to the experts at Woodland Trust, robins are drawn to nest boxes if they’re under a natural cover.
This makes ivy or other climbing plants ideal additions to your garden set-up.
And you can now pick up pots of Ivy Mix for just £1.99 each from Wilko.
Available in classic green or with white detailing on the leaves, this budget plant makes the perfect autumn addition to your garden.
According to the product description, this “vigorous climbing foliage” can be “wonderful for creating dense coverage to create shade, cover structures, or act as a backdrop to other plants”.
It is also versatile and hardy, making it ideal for even the most inexperienced of gardeners.
Like all birds, robins can prove useful for tackling insects and creepy crawlies in your garden.
And with the decline in insects during the colder weather, robins are known to forage more on the ground.
This can help to aerate the soil in your garden throughout autumn and winter.
Meanwhile, their droppings can help to act as a natural fertiliser in your garden.
And since the species mainly feed on fruits and seeds, they can also help with seed dispersal.
The Sun’s Gardening Editor, Veronica Lorraine, has shared the jobs you need to tackle in October.
“It’s a good time to trim deciduous hedges – like box, yew, hawthorn, hornbean and beech – plus hedge trimmers are a great upper body workout!
Make leafmould – gather up all the fallen leaves and fill either bin bags or plastic carrier bags. Seal the top, stick a few small holes in the bag – and then store for a year or more. Free compost!
It’s unlikely you’ll get any more red tomatoes so have one final harvest and chuck the plants on the compost. See if you can get the green ones to ripen by putting in a drawer (some say with a banana). Also keep the seeds from a couple – and plant again next year if they went well.
Finish getting in your spring bulbs. Ideally you’d have done daffs and alliums, but tulips are better in the ground when the soil temperature gets a bit colder.
It’s good to leave some plant litter in the ground – it adds to the nutrients as it rots down, and provides shelter and food for insects. But remove the manky brown bits collapsing all over the lawn/winter structure.
Mulch – it not only suppresses weeds, but keeps the soil warm, improves water retention and adds a little winter duvet to your outside space.
October’s a good month for carrots, peas, asparagus, broad beans, and rhubarb.”
A gardening pro revealed the £1.99 Lidl plant that is the secret to filling outside space with colour all autumn.
Plus, the best flowers to add to your garden for 10 months of colourful blooms.
You can also stop weeds growing all autumn and winter with this quick gardening task.
And a £2.49 item you need to sprinkle on your patio or driveway to banish weeds for good.
Plus, the exact date you should store your outdoor furniture away for winter.
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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 well thought-out interior, innovative tech and an impressive long range for an EV are just a few of the features that scooped the Renault Scenic The Sun’s Family Car of the Year award.
But could it cut the mustard (French or British) with an active family and hard-to-impress teenagers putting it through its paces?
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Here’s the lowdown on my extended Test.
Over the months I had the Scenic on test, the lasting impression was that it certainly lives up to the name tag. It’s a serene drive across all types of terrain.
From a half-term trip to the West Country where we blasted down the M4 and M5 without the need for a pit stop, to a longer trek to the tip of Cornwall, we pushed the Scenic to the limit in terms of distance, weight and durability.
As a result, it rose to the challenge, negating any fears that EVs can’t be the versatile plug-ins that so many British families are looking for.
While the acceleration is good, with a 0-62mph of 7.9 seconds, it won’t win any drag races.
On motorways, it sits well at 70mph, with sound thrust on overtakes and lane changes. The brakes are solid and, around town, the ride held firm over pot-holed roads.
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There’s a drive mode for every whim. Eco mode naturally slows the car to optimise battery performance, capping speed and dialling down in-car features.
All hail to its minimalist ways, which were particularly effective during a major motorway diversion.
A slightly longer route meant I might have been looking at an additional charging stop.
But I arrived home with 20 miles to spare and no range anxiety – job done!
For less frugal days, Comfort was the mid-range setting that became my default.
Sport provides that extra bit of power when required, and Perso is for those who want (and have the time) to create their own setup.
We’ve been treated to the Iconic Long Range 220 HP version, meaning that, in theory and on a full charge it can reach a range of 369 miles. This is pretty decent and, in my experience of EVs, gives it competitive appeal.
A larger battery size (87 kWh versus the standard model’s 60 kWH) does, however, come at an £8,000 price uptick, so one to factor into purchase budgets.
The Scenic’s output matched up well to the claimed range. In the colder months, it’s full charge only hit the 330 miles mark, but this is acceptable and more than adequate.
Similarly, on mid to longer journeys, it kept to the indicated range when driven in the 50-60mph territory.
Any closer to 70mph and this began to drop off, but only as
expected, so not a point to fret over.
Want suave design vibes? You got it. The tech was a tantalising teen dream. Sounds by French legendary electro-pop guru Jean-Michel Jarre and a rear-view mirror that can run as a video screen were the order of the day.
Throw in the Solarbay panoramic glass roof, which can darken or lighten on demand, and the awesome AC in the back and front sections of the cabin to dial up the chill factor, and we beat the heatwaves.
With the 12” multimedia touchscreen (portrait in shape so it feels like a large phone) and the 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system to boot, me and my gang were spoiled.
As passengers in the back, my teens were impressed with the arm rest that keeps on giving. It unfolds to offer drinks holders, USB ports and a smart phone/tablet holder.
The boot area also had a surprise in-store. Prise up the easy-to-lift floor mat and you discover a whole new storage section. Excellent for boots in the winter, wetsuits in the summer and the dog kit whatever the season.
Renault is pitching the Scenic E-Tech into a cluster of new mid-sized EVs that have launched in the last year or so.
Key rivals for the family-friendly vote come from the Kia EV3, Ford Explorer, Volkswagen ID.5 and Skoda Enyaq. All offer sleek designs and impressive cabin features, which the Scenic stands up well to.
The Tesla Model Y is also in this herd of contenders, but Elon’s recent political distractions has damaged his appeal to UK buyers.
Making the switch to an EV might not yet be the right choice for regular families in the UK, but it is one that will start to become more familiar.
With an on-the-road price of just over £45,000, the Renault Scenic E-Tech could be considered a relatively expensive option, but it is the full package.
It’s therefore not difficult to see why it was also crowned European Car of the Year 2024.
Winning these accolades from experienced car reviewers is one thing, but surviving a few months with my clan is another.
The Scenic stepped up to the mark here too, so add that to its trophy cabinet.
Here’s everything you need to know about The Sun’s Family Car of the Year:
A MAJOR supermarket with 340 branches is set to close a site tomorrow.
The supermarket specialises in frozen food but also stocks a wide-range of well known brands such as Muller, Birds Eye and McCain.
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Heron Foods was first established in 1978 after operating as a local butcher in Hull under the name ‘Grindells Butchers.’
After Anthony Grindell sold the business to his sister and her family, the name was changed and the chain started to grow.
The company now runs 343 locations across the UK, however it will suffer a huge blow.
It has now been announced that the Scunthorpe store is set to close its doors for the final time.
In the Heron Foods Scunthorpe Facebook group, one of the admins wrote to the chain’s loyal customer base to announce the news.
The post read: “Dear Valued Customers, we want to thank you for your continued support and loyalty to our Heron Foods store in Scunthorpe.
“It’s been a pleasure serving the local community, and we’re incredibly grateful for the relationships we’ve built over the years.
“We’re writing to let you know that our Scunthorpe store, located at Jubilee Way in the Parishes Shopping Centre, will be closing down.
“This decision was not made lightly, and we understand it may come as disappointing news to many of you.”
It was also revealed that the shop will close its doors for the final time before the weekend has even finished.
The post continued: “Our final day of trading will be the 27th September, and until then, we’ll continue to offer great value and service.
“We encourage you to visit us before we close to take advantage of our remaining stock and special offers.”
The account added: “While this location is closing, we remain committed to serving our customers across the UK. You can continue to shop with us at nearby Heron Foods stores.
“Thank you again for being part of our journey in Scunthorpe. We’ll miss you!”
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Customers flooded the comments section of the post to express their immense disappointment at the decision.
One user wrote: “Shame you always have good bargains, going to miss you.”
A second stated: “Shame it’s shutting down always go in there every week.”
“Not good for the town yet again another good shop to close,” claimed a third concerned resident.
While this location is closing, we remain committed to serving our customers across the UK.
Shop adminFacebook
While a fourth commented: “It’s an absolute shame for the wonderfully helpful staff.”
And a fifth added: “Feel sorry for all the people that use the shop in the town that get their good bargains etc.”
However, the chain is launching a new site in Byker, Newcastle which is set to open its doors to customers on October 16th.
The company is also investing in a refurbishment in its Fulwell shop in Sunderland that is due to reopen at the start of October.
In August 2017, B&M purchased the chain in a reported £152million acquisition.
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A MASTERCHEF star has announced the closure of all of his UK pastry shops, after struggling to cope with climbing costs.
Graham Hornigold, who has also appeared on Junior Bake Off co-founded gourmet doughnut brand Longboys back in 2019, but just six years later, the business has gone bust.
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The brand’s three London sites, in Liverpool Street, Coal Drops Yard and Market Halls Canary Wharf have all closed their doors for their final time.
Writing on Instagram, the pastry chef explained: “You’ve probably noticed we’ve been a little quieter than usual.
“The truth is, with rising inflation, changes to NI, and product costs spiralling, the past few months have been incredibly tough.
“Like so many small independents across the UK hospitality industry, we’ve felt the impact hard.
“You may have seen that we made the difficult decision to close all Longboys sites in the hope of reopening. Sadly, we won’t be able to bring them back.
“But this isn’t the end -it’s a redirection.”
Graham added that himself and his team will “dust ourselves off and go again”.
Longboys was famous for its finger shaped doughnut and eclair hybrids, filled with creative flavours, such as Sticky Toffee Pudding and Raspberry Rose Lychee.
Commenting under the post, pastry fans shared their devastation at the closure.
One person said: “Gutted to hear this news!
“Look forward to your return soon.”
A second person said: “Your lychee raspberry donuts will be living rent-free in my mind forever.”
A third person added: “Sorry to hear this news. I enjoyed many visits to your Coal Drops Yard shop.”
And Longboys isn’t the only eatery that’s struggled to stay afloat.
Rick Stein’s Marlborough restaurant could be set to close its doors for good, just five years after being saved.
A spokesperson for Rick Stein Marlborough told Gazette and Herald: “We can confirm that we are proposing the closure of our Marlborough restaurant and are consulting with the team to explore whether this can be avoided.
“Our other restaurants and rooms continue to trade well, but this particular site has not delivered the same level of return.”
And last month, Channel 4 chef Dom Taylor announced he is closing his Marvee’s Food Shop in Ladbroke Grove, West London, due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
The Caribbean restaurant only opened a few month’s prior, in May, as part of the music and events space UNDR, near the famous Portobello Road.
A HUGE carmaker has issued a UK recall, over fears that the brake pedals could fall off one of it’s vehicle models.
Earlier this year, Stellantis, the parent firm of French car manufacturer Citroen issued a huge recall of its motors fitted with Takata airbags, after they were linked to a number of fatal accidents.
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The recall left 120,000 motorists unable to drive their vehicles, and now more models are being recalled, for a separate issue.
Citroen has urged anyone with a current C3 model to stop driving their cars, due to an issue with the break pedal.
The carmaker revealed that a problem with the assembly of the brake pedal box could result in the car’s brake pedal falling off, which would stop the mechanical brakes from being applied.
“During our regular quality process checks, an investigation revealed that certain right-hand-drive Citroen C3 and Citroen C3 Aircross could have a pedal box assembly that is not to the correct specification and is at risk of loss of brake capability,” it said.
“If this were to happen, the automatic emergency braking (AEB) and the electronic parking brake would remain fully operational.
“We are initiating a stop-drive action to protect all customers of the Citroen C3 and C3 Aircross affected. Customers will be provided a replacement vehicle whilst their car is checked and, if necessary, rectified.”
All of Citroen’s current C3 range is affected by the recall.
This includes the following models:
Around 1,110 of these cars have so far been delivered to UK drivers, according to Stellantis.
The new Vauxhall Frontera and Vauxhall Frontera Electric models are also affected by the recall, however, these cars have not yet begun to be delivered to UK drivers.
If you own one of the affected models, you should stop driving it immediately.
This is because Stellantis has issued a “stop drive” recall, a rare warning that is put in place when the fault caused by the recall is so dangerous.
Courtesy cars will be offered to anyone affected by the recall, whilst their vehicle is checked, and, if required, fixed, by dealerships.
Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know.
Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods.
As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action.
But it’s often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer’s website to see if a safety notice has been issued.
When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you – the customer – to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don’t there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault.
If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer.
They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice.
In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected.
You should not be charged for any recall work – such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item
Earlier this year, Stellantis issued another “stop drive” recall, to owners of the Citroen C3 (2009-2019), DS3 (2009-2019), Citroen C4 (2010-2011), DS4 (2010-2011) and DS5 (2010-2013).
This is due to faulty airbags, with the vehicles all requiring repairs.
The recall was prompted by concerns over airbags supplied by the now-defunct Japanese manufacturer Takata, whose components have been linked to fatal accidents.
In one recent incident, a driver in France was killed after a minor collision resulted in metal shrapnel from a faulty airbag hitting them – prompting an immediate reaction from the company.
A spokesperson for Stellantis said at the time: “The company’s focus is on completing the replacement of airbags in affected vehicles as swiftly as possible.
“Working hand in hand with our Citroen retailer network we are working to maximise the number of vehicles we can repair every day.
“To increase our repair capacity further, work is ongoing on introducing additional airbag replacement sites at convenient locations as well as repair at home options.
“It is inevitable, with such a large number of vehicles affected, that customers will be inconvenienced in the short term.
“However, we are deploying a variety of options to support mobility, recognising that every driver will have individual requirements, and that priority needs to be given to customers with the most urgent needs.”
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?!?”
PLANE passengers need to be aware of this one boarding pass code which could land you the worst seat on the entire plane.
Although these tickets are small, they hold a wealth of information about flight details – some of which could impact where you are sat.
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At the bottom of a typical boarding pass there is often a SEQ number, according to Simple Flying.
This is also known as the “sequence number”.
It refers to the passenger boarding order for the flight.
For example, if your ticket reads SEQ08, it would mean you are the eighth person to check in.
With this information, you may be able to determine what seat you have been allocated.
Some airlines reportedly assign seats in the order of how travellers have checked in.
This means that people who were last to show up may be given a less desirable seat, reports say.
The SEQ code could also cause issues if the passenger is one of the last people to check in and the flight is full.
Other codes on boarding passes include the group number, with airlines like Air Canada and Finnair using these.
This code is designed to help make boarding easier.
It usually reads as something like “Group 1” or “Group 2”, which staff then call out at the gate.
These groups are often assigned based on things like families, passengers with disabilities and seating class.
Another common code on a boarding pass is “SSSS”.
This stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection – and works as an thorough security check.
It was created by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the US.
Passengers who notice it on their boarding ticket should expect an “enhanced” screening.
This can take longer than normal security checks.
And it can sometimes cause delays for travellers who don’t anticipate this factor.
Some airlines can also overbook planes.
When everyone turns up without anyone pulling out of the flight, those who check in last are at risk of being transferred to a different flight.
Another code that appears on boarding passes is the booking reference or reservation number.
The Passenger Name Record (PNR) is a six-digit alphanumeric code that appears on each and every boarding pass.
This randomly-generated sequence labels you as a unique passenger.
It can help distinguish you in case you share an exact first and last name with another person on your plane.
Every passenger’s PNR is essentially a detailed travel itinerary which includes a trove of data.
This includes things like flight details to meal preferences and even frequent flyer status.
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BRITAIN’S banks are giving away free cash payments of up to £200 each – and customers need to do one thing to be eligible to claim the money.
The extraordinary deals are being offered by major UK banks such as Lloyds and NatWest as part of the fight to boost customer numbers.
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Nationwide is also among the list of banking giants handing out the free cash payments for changing bank accounts.
The deals are part of switching incentives, and also come with extra perks like cashback and savings rates well above the average.
The first bank on the list is giving out a handsome sum of £175 to customers who complete a full switch through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).
Those joining can pick from three accounts: FlexPlus, FlexFirect or FlexAccount.
The FlexDirect account offers 5 per cent AER interest on balances up to £1,500 for the first 12 months.
It also offers 1 per cent cashback on debit card spending with a maximum of £5 per month.
Combining this with the switching bonus, cashback and interest, smart savers could horde up to £400 in free payments in the first year of joining.
Nationwide’s Director of Group Retail Products Tom Riley said: “It’s never been more rewarding to be a Nationwide member and that’s why we want to help more people benefit by offering this switching offer.”
The building society consistently ranks top for customer service and has already attracted over a million new customers through CASS since 2013.
For a £200 free cash payment, Lloyds Bank is giving away bonuses to customers who make a switch.
People who move their existing account to a Club Lloyds or Lloyds Premier account can get the free cash.
But the payment comes on condition they set up three or more direct debits.
Lloyds Bank is one of the UK’s largest financial services organisations and serves tens of millions of Brits.
For account holders switching with NatWest, customers can get up to £175 on one condition.
Those choosing a Select or Reward account can get the free cash.
But they must pay in £1,250 first.
And customers also need to login to the mobile app within 60 days.
RBS, part of NatWest Group, is also offering £175 for switching to a Select or Reward account, as long as they pay £1,250 and login to the app in 60 days.
First Direct is offering £175 for switching to its popular 1st Account.
Customers must pay in £1,000 minimum, set up two direct debits or standing orders, and make five debit card payments within 45 days.
The Co-operative Bank’s switch deal stands at £100, with customers able to make another £75.
Customers need to meet the same requirements as First Direct switchers over the next three months.
There’s a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to get by.
If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.
This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.
If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don’t think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy firms have schemes available to customers struggling to cover their bills.
But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.
British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You don’t need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as those who are elderly or ill.
Some of the perks include being given advance warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and extra support if you’re struggling.
Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.
Financial expert Kate Steere said Nationwide’s package may be the best in value over 12 months, factoring in interest and cashback.
She said: “If you max out the savings and cashback alongside the switching bonus, you could be looking at nearly £400 in your first year.”
Lloyds is offering the highest single payout though, standing at £200 upfront.
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A MAJOR UK supermarket has slashed the price of all its Christmas chocolate tubs – and you don’t need a loyalty card to get the bargain.
With just under 100 days to go until Christmas, shoppers are being urged to stock up early and save money on their festive favourites.
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Asda, today cut the price on its tubs of Celebrations, Quality Street, Cadbury Heroes and Cadbury Roses – making them the cheapest on the market without signing up for any scheme.
A tub of Quality Street or Celebrations now costs £4.42, while Cadbury Heroes and Roses are just £4.92 each.
The supermarket said it wanted to give customers the best value possible ahead of the busy festive period, with no need to scan a card or download an app at the checkout.
The deals come as Asda recently unveiled its full Christmas food range for 2025.
It includes Hot Maple Pigs in Blankets, a Pigs in Duvet Wreath, a Festive Fondue Kit, Slow Cured Rack of Pork with Truffle Butter and Parmesan Crumb and a Pistachio & Milk Chocolate Flavour Cream Liqueur.
Retail experts say the price cuts could spark a supermarket price war as competitors look to match Asda’s prices in the run-up to December.
It follows a strong year for Asda, which was named one of the UK’s cheapest supermarkets by Which? earlier this month.
In August, a larger trolley shop of 190 items cost £474.86 at Asda – £11.03 cheaper than Tesco with a Clubcard.
Sweets under the tree are a big part of Christmas for British households.
Supermarkets often offer flash promotions giving shoppers a chance to get their festive favourites at a discounted price.
But these offers aren’t around for long.
Earlier this month, Tesco slashed the price of Quality Street tubs to £2.95.
The price drop gave shoppers a chance to stock up ahead of Christmas.
You’ll need to hide away the tubs to avoid the temptation of tucking in before December.
Besides the big chocolate tubs, other Christmas favourites are starting to land on shelves.
Cadbury’s Mini Snow Balls are one of the best-selling chocolate treats during Christmas time.
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.
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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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
THE most common type of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in the UK is O157.
Symptoms
People infected with STEC can have a combination of the following symptoms:
Some people may have mild diarrhoea, or even no symptoms at all.
Symptoms can last up to two weeks in cases without complications.
A small proportion of patients, mainly children, may develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) which is a serious life-threatening condition resulting in kidney failure.
And a small proportion of adults may develop a similar condition called thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP).
How it’s transmitted
Cattle are the most important reservoir of STEC O157 in the UK, although STEC have also been found in the faeces of a range of animals, including deer, rabbits, horses, pigs and wild birds.
People can become infected by:
How to avoid getting it
Good hygiene practices relating to food and drink, and animals and their environment can hep you avoid getting infected.
You must:
How to treat STEC
There is no specific treatment for STEC infection. The illness is usually self-limiting, and will clear itself within a week.
It’s important to drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea can lead to dehydration.
Antibiotics are not recommended and are likely to increase the risk of getting complications such as HUS.
Also, stay away from work or school until 48 hours after you’ve stopped vomiting or having diarrhoea.
Source: UK Health Security Agency
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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