Warm

SHOPPERS are rushing to buy a nifty gadget that costs just 1p to run – and they say it will stop them having to turn the heating on this winter.

The handy product will help keep you warm at home as the colder months approach, and it doesn’t cost a fortune.

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Amazon is selling the neck and shoulder heatpad for £39.99.

It normally retails at £59.99 – representing a saving of 30%.

The Dreamland heatpad is designed to be worn around the neck and can keep your shoulders feeling toasty in winter.

It has also been praised by buyers for easing symptoms associated with arthritis and injuries.

Others have described it as “excellent”.

One satisfied customer hailed it as “lovely” as it stays warm for hours and doesn’t cost anything extra to reheat.

Easy to use

The product’s manufacturer said it delivers “precise temperature control for a full three-hour treatment”.

It added: “It is so easy to use, and has a choice of five continuous use temperate setting, with a three-hour auto shut off timer.

“It costs from as little as 1p to run per treatment for three hours.” 

The cover is machine washable and can be easily stored away when the weather warms back up.

It’s even landed dozens of five-star reviews online.

One buyer said: “Bought for my arthritic mother. She loves it and it helps her a lot.”

Another described it as a “lovely item”.

A third person wrote: “Excellent for a stiff neck, or trapped nerve.”

More money-saving gadgets

Savvy shoppers are always quick to share tips and tricks to keep warm for cheap this winter.

Some recently shared Lidl was selling £18 gadgets that save them turning the heating on.

One woman also recently shared her new hack – which is said to be like “hugging a sheep”.

Dunelm shoppers have also recently been rushing to buy a “life-saver” winter gadget.

The discounter is selling the device that costs just 1p an hour to run.

Aldi also recently shared one of its winter gadgets that costs just 6p to run.

Don’t forget about your hands …

Here are some handy tips to ease the effects of cold weather on your hands …

A pair of mitts can really help your hands through the winter months.

Wear gloves outside so that the cold air doesn’t zap the moisture out of your skin.

For washing up, protect your hands with rubber gloves. Apply hand cream before putting on the gloves and the warm water will help the cream soothe your hands.

Dry, brittle and split nails are a real pain in winter, when our hands are craving moisture. The answer may lie in your food cupboard.

Rubbing olive oil into your nails and cuticles each day can strengthen and soothe them, reducing the risk of splits.

Nursem is a handcare brand started by former children’s intensive care nurse Antonia Philp, whose hands were left cracked and sore from constant handwashing.

Or, to soothe winter hands, try this. Blitz 100g oats in a food mixer until it becomes a powder.

Add to a bowl of warm water with 50ml of olive oil. Soak hands for 10 minutes before drying and apply hand cream.

You will be able to enjoy sunny weather by heading to one pretty European island in the autumn.

For those looking to escape the weather when we move towards autumn, there’s no need to venture too far.

Just off Africa’s north coast, Madeira offers a warm retreat for holidaymakers seeking the last of Europe’s balmy weather this year.

With a warm climate year-round, the temperature averages around 23C in October, with November temperatures often reaching a comfortable 22C.

Being less than four hours away by plane, the islands of the Madeira archipelago are a favourite destination for Brits throughout the year, and equally adored by Portuguese and German tourists.

Travel giant TUI suggests staying in the capital, Funchal, where you can enjoy a blend of colonial buildings, churches, and relaxed squares, reports the Express.

The old town’s narrow streets are brimming with wine bars and family-owned eateries, while the marina boasts cafes and top-notch seafood spots.

Funchal’s cable car whisks tourists up to the leafy suburb of Monte, home to stunning botanical gardens.

For a taste of Madeira’s heritage, don’t miss a ride on the wicker sledges from Monte back down to Livramento.

Designated workers physically push visitors down the hill, an exhilarating experience that many say is a must-do during any visit.

East of Funchal, you’ll find Canico De Baixo. This place is a blend of old and new, with an 18th-century church and town square at its heart, surrounded by modern boutique hotels and clifftop villas.

While soaking up the stunning views on this island, known as both the Floating Garden and Hawaii of the Atlantic, it’s essential to sample the world-renowned Madeira wine.

Madeira wine comes in four main styles, each offering a different level of sweetness. The sweetest of them all is Malvasia, followed by Bual, then Verdelho. The driest is Sercial.

There’s also a resurgence of Madeira made from a grape called Terrantez, which was nearly wiped out on the island. It’s said to have a sweetness level similar to Bual and Verdelho.

New Australian government report finds coral decline across the reef due to ‘climate change-induced heat stress’.

The Great Barrier Reef has suffered its most widespread coral bleaching on record, according to a new Australian government report, as ocean temperatures soared in 2024.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) said on Wednesday that it surveyed the health of the reefs between August 2024 and May 2025 and found the “most spatially extensive” bleaching since records began in 1986, which was “predominantly driven by climate change-induced heat stress”.

Scientists also found that coral cover declined by almost one-third, down to just 26.9 percent, in the southernmost third of the reef, as the southern reefs experienced their highest recorded levels of heat stress.

“The declines in the north and south were the largest in a single year since monitoring began 39 years ago,” the study’s authors wrote in The Conversation publication.

Described as the world’s largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef is a 2,300km (1,400-mile) expanse of tropical corals that houses a stunning array of biodiversity.

AIMS CEO Professor Selina Stead said that “mass bleaching events are becoming more intense and are occurring with more frequency”.

“The future of the world’s coral reefs relies on strong greenhouse gas emissions reduction,” Stead said.

Managing local pressures and helping the reefs to “adapt to and recover from the impacts of climate change” was also important, she added.

According to UNESCO, which has classified the Great Barrier Reef as a World Heritage Site, the ecosystem is home to the world’s largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 types of coral.

It is also home to 1,500 species of fish, 4,000 types of mollusc, 240 species of birds, as well as species such as the dugong and the large green turtle, according to UNESCO.

While United Nations experts say the Great Barrier Reef should be included among the World Heritage Sites that are classified as “in danger”, the Australian government has lobbied to keep it off the endangered list, fearing it could affect the billions of dollars in tourism revenue it generates annually.

In a report released last week, Australia’s Climate Change Authority said that opportunities to protect the Great Barrier Reef from climate change include major fossil-fuel exporting countries adopting low- and zero-emission alternatives and stronger action on climate pollutants, such as methane, which “contribute most to near-term climate warming”.

But Australia remains a major exporter of fossil fuels, including coal from the controversial Adani coal mine, which is shipped out past the Great Barrier Reef.

The authority’s report also noted that some 93 percent of the excess heat in the atmosphere has been absorbed by the world’s oceans, and that 2024 ocean temperatures surpassed the previous record set in 2023.

The Isle of Tiree is located 22 miles west of Ardnamurchan, the nearest part of the Scottish mainland, and sixty miles west of Oban, where you can get a four-hour ferry to the island

Scotland may be known for its chilly and damp climate, but it’s also home to a stunning island that’s been affectionately named the ‘Hawaii of the North’. Nestled 22 miles west of Ardnamurchan, the closest point on the Scottish mainland, and a sixty-mile journey west from Oban, lies the Isle of Tiree.

The island is bathed in the warm currents of the Gulf Stream, blessing Tiree with some of the highest levels of sunshine and warmest temperatures in the UK. Even in winter, frost is a rare sight, although the island does become rather windy due to its low-lying nature.

However, come spring and summer, the breeze turns into a pleasant gust, helping to keep away midges and other pesky insects.

Tiree boasts a plethora of breathtaking beaches, with Gott Bay being the largest and a favourite amongst windsurfers and sand yachters. At low tide, a thin stretch of sand connects Gott Bay to the nearby Island of Soa.

Crossapol Beach is another hotspot for windsurfers and an ideal location for wildlife enthusiasts. During the summer months, you might even spot the fins of Basking Sharks, reports the Express.

Other picturesque beaches on this idyllic island include Balephetrish Beach, Balevullin Beach, Soroby Bay, among others.

Tiree enchants holidaymakers with its unique Ringing Stone – a boulder that chimes metallically when tapped, linked to the Megalithic Builders and believed to be an Ice Age relic.

According to local legends, the stone was hurled to Tiree by a giant from Mull, and should it ever be removed, the island is doomed to submerge beneath the waves.

Keen to delve into Tiree’s past? The An Iodhlann Archive and Museum is your go-to for gripping exhibitions on the island’s heritage and community.

Visitors have been heaping praise on Tiree over at TripAdvisor, with one posting: “Tiree is a magical place. Pace of life is slower, people are friendly to each other, the beaches are simply stunning and among the best, if not the best in the world. Great destination to recharge and unwind from modern life.”

Another equally impressed traveller reminisced: “Went to island of Tiree back in 2002 and have to say it was an amazing trip as well as an lifetime experience. One of the most beautiful places to visit in the UK highly recommended.”

While a third added: “Such a remote and beautiful island. The vernacular Architecture is gorgeous, the scenery spectacular and even the weather was fine. Lots to do and see. Local pottery, cafes, pubs and historic villages. Well worth a visit. Yellow Hare Cafe at the ferry terminal is a must for the best coffee on the island.”