Lidl launches new summer flower for just £2 to brighten up garden – now is the time to plant them for the best results
A popular plant hit the middle aisle this week and now is the time to add it to your garden.
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Shoppers can pick up a fan-favourite flower without breaking the budget.
So why not fill out your flowerbeds, hanging baskets, and windowboxes this summer?
These plants typically flower between late spring and late autumn, so buying now will give you a lot of bang for your buck.
Lidl shoppers can now pick up a geranium plant for just £2.49 from the middle aisle.
The plants hit shelves on Thursday, May 29 and can help you save on your summer garden.
These geraniums are available as part of a mix 'n' match deal of three for £6.
So you can fill out your container boxes and any gaps in your flowerbeds with these bargain buys.
Experts recommend planting geraniums in either early summer or early autumn, so you'll want to act fast.
You should ensure you are using well-drained soil and even consider adding compost to enrich it.
Most varities of geranium tend to prefer direct sunlight and regular watering.
I hate my new build garden being overlooked so found a 5 METRE privacy fence to block out nosy neighbours for under £30
Deadheading can also help the plants flourish throughout the summer months.
And if you want them to last past the first frost, experts recommend bringing the flowers indoors before temperatures drop.
Meanwhile, a Home Bargains buy is said to add a touch of glamour to your garden.
The retailer is also selling a budget buy guaranteed to .
You can also add a stylish touch to your privacy fence with a B&M buy.
Or you can pick up another summer flower favourite from B&Q right now.
A £7 gardening gadget is also available from Home Bargains and is guaranteed to transform your lawn.
And Lidl customers can add a "whimsical" touch to their flowerbeds for just £3.
Or a £2 B&M buy transforms your patio into an "ambient" paradise this summer.
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The Independent
8 minutes ago
- The Independent
Boy with fragile skin disorder given hope after new treatment
A boy with a rare skin condition which can cause damage with even the smallest amount of friction has been given hope after taking part in a trial for the first potential treatment for the genetic disorder. Gabrielius Misurenkovas, 12, from east London, was diagnosed with an inflammatory disease called recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) when he was a baby. Many symptoms of the painful condition have been alleviated thanks to a new trial in which he received certain stem cells via an intravenous drip. The rare genetic disease is severely debilitating. People with the condition have extremely fragile skin which is easily damaged, leading to blistering, deep wounds and scarring. About 150 children in the UK are affected by RDEB, which is painful and causes itchiness. With no disease-modifying treatment available, patients and their families manage symptoms by dressing wounds and applying eye ointments. Over time, the condition can lead to severe complications and many patients with the condition develop a type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma when they are young adults – this is the most common cause of death for RDEB patients. Gabrielius has been under the care of medics at the world-renowned children's hospital Great Ormond Street (GOSH) since he was a baby. He said he jumped at the chance to join the clinical trial when it was suggested by his doctors. 'I wanted to take part in the trial as I was excited to see if it could help improve my condition and so I could do more of the things I enjoy, like playing football and spending time with my friends,' he said. The youngster, who can speak three languages and is a big fan of footballer Lionel Messi, needed his bandages changing three times a day, or more if he was injured. His mother, Jolita Cekaviciene, said: 'Gabrielius did really well on the trial. 'His wounds healed quicker, and his skin was less red and inflamed. 'His skin was also less itchy which also reduced him scratching. 'His sleep was also less disturbed as he didn't need to have his special wound dressings changed as often, so this was a great benefit.' She said Gabrielius has managed to do a few things that he was not able to before the treatment, including taking part in some sports at school, riding his bike in the park on the grass, and being able to play football with his friends, with a soft ball. Ms Cekaviciene said the trial has given her son more freedom than before, but he still needs to be careful in any activity to avoid falling over or bumps. Gabrielius was referred to GOSH as a baby after medics spotted a wound when he was born, and he was diagnosed with RDEB when he was two weeks old. Ms Cekaviciene said: 'The first two years were really hard as you had to watch him constantly – even rubbing his eyes could cause painful blistering. 'He couldn't even tell us how much pain he was in or where he was hurting.' RDEB is a genetic condition which is caused by a fault in the gene that makes a protein which holds layers of skin together – collagen VII. Medics wanted to assess whether regular infusions with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) improved symptoms for children with the condition, after studies suggested that MSC treatments could promote wound healing, reduce inflammation and stimulate tissue regeneration. In the trial, funded by NHS England, the National Institute for Health and Care Research and the charity Cure EB, children were given a treatment called CORDStrom, manufactured by INmuneBio. Gabrielius is one of 30 children who took part in the new clinical trial at GOSH and Birmingham Children's Hospital. Patients would go into hospital and have a drip which delivers the cells over 10 to 15 minutes. In the study patients were split into two groups, about half were given the treatment, which is made from umbilical cord tissue, as an infusion, twice over two weeks. The other half were given a placebo, also known as a dummy drug. They then had a nine-month gap, known as a wash-out period, where the group that were initially given the dummy drug were given the treatment, while the group that received therapy first were given a dummy drug. The study, published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, reported a positive outcome of the treatment. The largest effects were in children under the age of 10, and in the children with intermediate type of RDEB. Families involved in the study reported a positive impact on daily life and well-being, with a reduction in both pain and itching. The treatment was said to be well tolerated by the children. INmuneBio have agreed to provide CORDStrom free of charge for a year for all children who took part in the trial, so researchers can continue to study them, and patients are expected to get two infusions of the treatment every four months. The company is seeking regulatory approval for the treatment so it can be approved for use in the UK and other countries. Chief investigator of the study, Dr Anna Martinez, paediatric dermatologist at GOSH, said: 'Our study has demonstrated that CORDStrom was safe and can help reduce disease activity in some patients with RDEB. 'Administering the treatment early and at regular intervals appears to reduce itch and improve wound healing, which over time we hope will reduce inflammation, modify the condition and may reduce over time the future risk of squamous cell carcinoma. 'It's fantastic to see how the patients, like Gabrielius, had improvements in their symptoms and their quality of life.' She added: 'The 12-month open label study will allow us to collect more data to hopefully show an increased benefit from treatments administered in children and young people with RDEB, to continue research in support of the treatment being rolled out more widely.' Sharmila Collins, founder trustee of Cure EB, said: 'Since funding the first trial and by contributing to Mission EB we have been working towards bringing MSC infusions forward for all children in the UK with RDEB. 'We hope these cells will become part of routine clinical care to alleviate the significant suffering of children with this condition.'
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
ROBERT HARDMAN: On VJ Day how can we claim 'we will remember them' when the remains of UK war heroes are still in plastic boxes in Malaysia?
As the very last of the 'Forgotten Army' gather today, it will be with the same bitter-sweet emotions which come flooding back every August 15. Now, as then, the veterans of the Far East can't help the feeling that they are something of an afterthought. They had felt it all through the war, and especially through the summer of 1945 – as they fought on for three more hellish months long after Victory in Europe and those wild VE Day parties back home. And can we really blame them? Today's commemoration of Victory in Japan – VJ Day – at the National Memorial Arboretum, attended by the King and the Prime Minister, will be a poignant occasion, of course. Yet, at the going down of the sun and in the morning, can we truly say that 'we will remember them' when it transpires that the mortal remains of several British heroes continue to languish in a plastic box in Malaysia – while the British authorities twiddle their thumbs? For proof that the war in the Far East still sits in the dimmer recesses of our collective national memory, look no further than the tragic tale of two mighty Royal Navy warships, the battle cruiser, HMS Repulse, and the battleship, HMS Prince of Wales. On December 10, 1941, less than three days after its attack on the US fleet in Pearl Harbour, Japan came after the pride of the Royal Navy's Eastern Pacific fleet off the coast of what was then Malaya. Both ships were hit by bombs and torpedoes and went down within hours of each other, taking 842 men with them. 'In all the war, I never received a more direct shock,' Winston Churchill said later. 'As I turned over and twisted in bed the full horror of the news sank in upon me... Across this vast expanse of waters, Japan was supreme.' Even for those who survived, salvation was short-lived. Most were taken ashore to the naval base in Singapore. Within weeks, the colony had fallen to Japan in one of the greatest humiliations of the war. Thousands of servicemen, along with the civilian population, were marched to a brutal captivity from which many would not emerge. After the war, passing British ships would conduct memorial services over the wrecks and, for a while, send divers down to ensure that the White Ensign of the Royal Navy was still attached to the hulls. In due course, they were designated as war graves while the bell of the Prince of Wales was recovered in 2002 and returned to Britain. However, over the years came grim reports of looting by salvage operators plundering the wreck for scrap metal. When the subject surfaced periodically in Parliament, ministers would pledge to keep an eye on things. It was only thanks to the British charity, the Maritime Archaeology Sea Trust (MAST), that the true extent of this desecration has since come to light. In 2022, it discovered that a Chinese salvage barge had spent 92 days ransacking the sites – which lie in international waters. Then, in 2023, it tracked the loot to a Malaysian breakers' yard. Police duly seized a huge quantity of stolen property, including the giant anchors of HMS Prince of Wales, and arrests were made. Veterans and the next of kin were dismayed, even more so when it emerged that the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur had told the Malaysians they could keep the stuff. No one in the Foreign Office or the Ministry of Defence, it seems, had seen it fit to consult the families. Further bad news was to follow, however. Last year, the Malaysian authorities confirmed to the team from MAST their worst suspicions: the loot not only included sailors' possessions but human remains. These were being carefully preserved by the Malaysians yet the British authorities had made no effort to reclaim them. 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This cannot come soon enough for the last survivor of the sinkings. This week, former Royal Marine Jim Wren, 105, received a royal visit when the Duchess of Edinburgh came to his Salisbury care home as part of the VJ Day commemorations. He still recalls the moment a bomb landed behind his mess in HMS Repulse and exploded several decks below. He rushed to man an anti-aircraft gun until the ship keeled on her side, whereupon 'it was every man for himself' and he was hauled out of the sea two hours later, vomiting oil. Returned to Singapore, he fought the Japanese on land before being taken prisoner. For the next three years, his family and his sweetheart, Margaret, thought he was dead until word came through that an emaciated Jim was on his way home in October 1945. Now the oldest Royal Marine alive, Mr Wren has had his portrait painted at the behest of the King and also featured on this week's BBC film, VJ Day: We Were There. 'I can't forget the men in that ship,' he said this week. 'Let them rest in peace.' He wants all the looted remains buried properly. For good measure, he would love to see the main anchor of the Prince of Wales returned to Britain and installed at the National Memorial Arboretum as a monument to all 842. It is, surely, not much to ask – unless the heroes of VJ Day really are the 'forgotten' ones?
The Independent
38 minutes ago
- The Independent
Government teams up with TikTok influencers over cosmetic surgery warnings
New government plans will see social media influencers highlight the risks of travelling abroad for cosmetic procedures, including hair transplants and dental work. Ministers hope the campaign, in partnership with TikTok, will help people make "more informed choices before they go under the knife." Medical influencers, such as Midwife Marley and Doc Tally, will create videos showing the dangers. The content will urge patients to speak to a UK doctor first and avoid package holidays that include procedures. A checklist will also be provided, advising patients to check surgeon credentials, clinic regulations, and understand aftercare before booking. This initiative forms part of a wider government drive to tackle so-called "medical tourism" and ensure the NHS is not left to foot the bill when complications arise. Health minister Karin Smyth said: 'Too many people are being left with life-altering injuries after going abroad for medical procedures, without access to proper advice or safeguards. 'Often drawn in by deals too good to be true and promoted by influencers – some of whom have never been to the practice in question. 'By partnering with TikTok, we're helping people make safer, more informed choices before they go under the knife – wherever that may be.' Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said: 'Our aim is to explain the risks and help British people understand the actions they can take to keep themselves safe when abroad. 'If you choose to travel abroad for medical treatment, it is vital you do your research and are fully aware of the risks involved. 'We urge anyone considering a medical procedure abroad to review our travel advice, relevant guidance from the NHS and other professional bodies, and research foreign providers thoroughly to ensure they meet the highest standard of care. 'Informed choices today can help avoid serious complications tomorrow.' The initiative comes after ministers outlined plans to cut down on 'cowboy' cosmetic procedures by introducing new restrictions. Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Social Care unveiled proposals which include only allowing 'suitably qualified' and Care Quality Commission-regulated health workers to deliver high-risk procedures such as Brazilian butt lifts. Elsewhere, clinics offering Botox and fillers will need licences, and age restrictions will be introduced to prevent children from trying to follow 'dangerous beauty trends on social media'. Those who break the rules will face sanctions, including financial penalties, officials said.
