Latest news with #OliviaStringer
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Aldi is selling a garden essential for a bargain price – it's a huge £55 cheaper than a similar B&Q product
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, GARDEN lovers better set their alarms, as Aldi is launching a summer essential for a budget price. Spring has been a scorcher so far, with Brits up and down the country taking to their gardens to relax in the sun. 3 And with another bank holiday on the horizon, transforming your garden into the perfect place to switch off and unwind is a must. Aldi's Belavi folding chair, is the perfect budget buy for making sure you can kick back and relax in style. The £24.99 chair comes in a sleek black design, meaning that it will easily fit in with any garden aesthetic. The recliner can be easily adjusted depending on your needs; lay it back whilst reading a book in the sun, or have it upright whilst enjoying drinks with friends. Plus, it can easily be folded up, meaning you can transport it to the beach of a festival, without any hassle. The chair will be landing in stores on Thursday, May 22nd, as part of Aldi's weekly Specialbuys deals. Each Thursday and Sunday, the bargain retailer stocks the middle aisles of its stores with a whole host of themed products, from beauty dupes to garden gadgets. However, you'll have to be quick to be in with the chance of nabbing this purse-friendly product, as Specialbuys are only available whilst stocks last. Aldi's folding chair is a whopping £55 cheaper than a similar product at B&Q. The Trespass Glenesk Folding Garden Chair is priced at £79.93, and comes in a chic grey design. Aldi's $4.99 Gardenline Plant Supports: Affordable Spring Gardening Must-Have! Although both products can easily be reclined, the B&Q product also comes with an adjustable headrest. It is also flame retardant, and can hold weight of us to 120kg. However, the B&Q product is not available in stores, and can only be ordered online. And for those struggling as temperatures remain high, Aldi is also set to launch the Ambiano Portable Air Cooler with LED lights for just £14.99. When's the best time to shop at Aldi? WHEN it comes to shopping at Aldi, the best time to do so depends on what you want to buy. For reduced items - when shops open Red sticker items are rare at Aldi's 830 UK stores, but the supermarket says that none of its food goes to waste so there are some to be found - if you're quick. A spokesman for the supermarket said: "All items are reduced to 50 per cent of the recommend sales price before stores open on their best before or use by dates." That means you have the best chance of finding reduced food items if you go into stores as soon as it opens. Opening times vary by shop but a majority open from 7am or 8am. You can find your nearest store's times by using the supermarket's online shop finder tool. For Specialbuys - Thursdays and Sundays Specialbuys are Aldi's weekly collection of items that it doesn't normally sell, which can range from pizza ovens to power tools. New stock comes into stores every Thursday and Sunday, so naturally, these are the best days to visit for the best one-off special deals. For an even better chance of bagging the best items, head there for your local store's opening time. Remember: once they're gone, they're gone, so if there's something you really want, visit as early as possible The handy buy will hit the middle aisle on Sunday, 25 May. Or if you can't decide, there is an automatic colour changing option, available on the easy-to-use control panel button. The handy cooler features a washable filter and a removable water tank. It is fully portable and comes with a handle for easy transportation. And you can stretch the buy as far as 1.5 metres with the accompanying type C charging cable.
The Sun
06-05-2025
- The Sun
Urgent warning to parents on WhatsApp over worrying message that tricks users into handing over cash
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, PARENTS are being urged to stay vigilant as a Whatsapp scam targeting mum's and dad's is becoming increasingly prevalent. Scammers pretend to be the victim's children, beginning their messages with 'hi mum', or 'hi dad'. 2 2 They then claim to have lost their phone and be locked out of their bank account, praying on the parents' concern for their children's safety. Eventually, the fraudsters beg the mum or dad for rent money, with parents often forking out as they genuinely believe the texts are from their children. These messages often arrive via WhatsApp or text message, with scammers also sometimes pretending to be close friends or parents. According to Action Fraud, these types of scam messages led to a financial loss of £226,744 in the UK between 2023 and 2025. Scammers were most successful when pretending to be sons, followed by daughters and then mothers, according to data collected by Santander. Chris Ainsley, Santander's head of fraud risk management has warned that the the scam is now becoming more believable thanks to the use of AI. He told The Independent: "We're hearing of instances where AI voice impersonation technology is being used to create WhatsApp and SMS voice notes, making the scam seem ever more realistic. "If you're ever asked for money out of the blue on any social or communication platform, verify the request by picking up the phone." These scams, known as 'smishing' (a combination of SMS and phishing) begin with a friendly message, pretending to be someone close to the recipient. If the messages are ignored, the senders often send repeated messages, using generic details to try and strike up a conversation, and make the recipients believe they are talking to family members. The scammer will then claim that they urgently need money as they don't have access to their bank account, and will ask for money to be transferred to an unrecognised account. For anyone worried that they are being targeted by this scam, experts recommend contacting your loved one via their real number, and waiting a while to see if they respond. You could also ask a question that only your loved one would know the answer to, or set up a code word in advance to ask the sender for if you worry they are not who they say they are. If you have already sent the cash over before releasing you are the victim of a scam, you should call the bank straight away to stop the payment. What is phishing? HERE's what you need to know: Phishing is a type of online fraud It's typically an attempt to nab some of your data Phishing generally involves scammers posing as a trustworthy entity For instance, fraudsters could send you an email claiming to be your bank, asking for details Scammers can also set up fake websites that look like real ones, simply to hoodwink you Phishing can take place over email, social media, texts, phone calls and more The best defence against phishing is to be generally sceptical of weblinks and emails, especially if they were unsolicited This comes after WhatsApp closed down on three mobile devices, with affected users blocked from sending or receiving messages. From Monday, only users with iPhones capable of supporting iOS version 15.1 and newer are able to use the messaging app. The models affected by the switch off are iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. All of these models were released over 10 years ago, so if you have purchased a phone in the last decade, you should be unaffected. Explaining the reason for the shutdown, WhatsApp said: "Devices and software change often, so we regularly review what operating systems we support and make updates. "Every year we look at which devices and software are the oldest and have the fewest users. "These devices also might not have the latest security updates, or might lack the functionality required to run WhatsApp. "Before we stop supporting your operating system, you'll be notified in WhatsApp and reminded a few times to upgrade."
The Sun
04-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Home Bargains gadget to keep insects out of your property for just £3.99 as spring warms up – £16 cheaper than Amazon
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, HOME BARGAINS is selling a handy gadget to keep you're home insect free, and it's £16 cheaper than a similar product sold on Amazon. Brits have been flooding parks and beaches this week, as temperatures soar to unseasonable highs. 3 3 3 And although the sun is undoubtedly putting a smile on many faces, hot weather also comes with it's own set of problems. Warmer temperatures provide the perfect breeding conditions for insects, whilst longer days give them more time to search for food and mate. And whilst many insects are harmless to humans, they are a complete nuisance when they invade our homes. If you're desperate to throw your windows and doors open to keep cool, but don't want your home to be overrun by creepy crawlies, Home Bargains has the perfect buy for you. The Jardin Magnetic Insect Door Screen easily attaches to your window or door frame, with the mesh screen letting air in, and bugs out. It is priced at just £3.99, and features a chic lace detail, so you can keep a bug free home, without compromising on style. A product description reads: "Breeze through summer with the Jardin Magnetic Insect Door Screen! "This stylish screen features a handy magnetic closure and lace detail, making it a breeze to install—no tools needed—while keeping pesky bugs at bay!" The Home Bargains buy is perfect for those keen to pinch pennies, and is £16 cheaper than a similar product on Amazon. The Magnetic Fly Insect Screen Door is both "durable and detachable" and is built with a light weight material, making it easy to pass through the door. Top Pest Control Tips for Your Yard A description for the £19.99 product reads: "The magnetic screen door allows fresh air and sunshine to come in and keeps out the bugs. "It can be applied to courtyard, patio, balcony, kitchen and front doors." Home Bargains shoppers have been going wild for the discount store's garden buys this spring, including an "absolutely gorgeous" highland cow figure. The £24.99 statue stands at two-feet tall, and shoppers like it so much that some have been displaying it inside their homes, instead of in the garden. Tips for keeping pests from your garden Plant companion plants such as peppermint to repel rats. Place Garden Netting Pest Barrier, over your flowerbeds. Fill open-top containers with beer and place in soil to repel slugs. Spray plants with Neem Oil, to repel ants, flies, and spiders. Dust your flowerbeds with Diatomaceous Earth. Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 10 drops peppermint oil, and 4 cups water and spray on flowerbeds. Place eggshells around your plants to protect from slugs and snails. Another garden buy fans of the budget store have been raving about is the Firefly Octagonal Wall Planter Solar Light which is priced at £5.99. This item has been described as a "stylish and eco-friendly" fixture which "combines warm white LED lighting with a chic planter". It is considered a "unique and practical solution to illuminate and adorn your outdoor spaces", making it the "perfect addition" to your garden. The rechargeable batteries are included, so simply secure to your wall and don't worry about it any further. This outdoor light automatically turns on at dusk and is fully weather resistant. And it is far cheaper than Amazon's e Hexagonal Wall Planted Solar Light, which is currently listed for £18.90.
The Sun
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Common bathroom gadget sold on Amazon urgently recalled over ‘serious risk of igniting and causing fire'
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, A BATHROOM essential sold via Amazon has been recalled, over a serious risk of fire. The USB Electric Toothbrush Charger has a number of issues with its fuse, meaning that if an electrical surge or fault were to occur occur, it could cause a fire. 2 The Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued an urgent recall of the product, as it does not meet the requirements of the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 or the Plugs & Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994. The recall states that the fuse within the charger's plug does not contain any granular filler, is the wrong length, and that the fuse endcaps are insecurely fixed. "In the event of an electrical surge or fault, the plug may overheat and ignite, causing a fire," the recall reads. The product, which comes from China, is now being rejected at the border. The £8.99 charger has a "waterproof design" and a "smart standby" mode, which detects when the toothbrush is fully charged. However, it has now been deemed unsafe for consumers. The model of the product is XT-3757 and the brand name is Shenzhen Binsheng Technology Development Co Ltd. Anyone who has purchased the project should stop using it immediately, and should be able to contact Amazon for a full refund. Products are commonly recalled when they pose a risk to customers' health and safety. This comes after a number of cheap money-saving gadgets sold on sites such as Amazon and AliExpress, were recalled because they failed basic electrical safety standards Staying Safe with Product Recalls in the UK The so-called energy saving plugs, appealed to Brits keen to keep energy bills down. According to consumer Watchdog Which?, one product, available on AliExpress, claimed to "reduce" line loss and "improve" power factor, with around 260 buyers. Another product, sold on eBay, claimed to use 'a capacitor system to store electrical energy, allowing it to be released more smoothly'. However, experts from Which? found that these products had poor quality soldering, contained too much lead, and had unmarked non-standard capacitors indicating they were not manufactured in the UK and therefore potentially unsafe. Your product recall rights 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 "It's incredibly concerning to see that these scam eco-plugs are still widely available on many online marketplaces, despite the fact that they are illegal and potentially a danger to their users," said Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer protection policy. 'Sadly, it's not surprising that these dangerous items have reappeared on major online marketplaces. "It fits the pattern we've seen following countless Which? investigations and is yet more evidence of why change is needed. A popular kids' dinosaur toy sold on Amazon was also recently recalled due to a "serious risk" of choking. The 3D printed toy was mislabelled, and a young child could smoke on a small part. The recall notice states that the toy, from China, is now being rejected at the border. And a popular airfryer sold in B&M, Argos, Poundland and Tesco has been recalled due to the risk of it bursting into flames. Customers who have one of four models of the airfryer by Tower are being told to get in touch with the company. Models affected include the T17023 Tower 2.2Ltr Manual Air Fryer, T17061BLK Tower 4Ltr Manual Air Fryer, T17067 Tower 4Ltr Digital Air Fryer and the T17087 Tower 2Ltr Compact Manual Air Fryer. Anyone with an affected device is advised to unplug them and "stop using them immediately."
The Sun
25-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
Major food recall issued by Morrisons over fears popular everyday product is contaminated with plastic
Olivia Stringer, Fabulous Digital Writer Published: Invalid Date, MORRISONS has issued a huge food recall, over fears a popular product could be contaminated with plastic. The supermarket has urged shoppers not to eat one of it's sausage products, as they may be unsafe to consume. 2 Anyone who purchased a packet o f Best 6 Thick Cumberland Sausages with a use by date of May 1, 2025 is affected by the recall. The Food Standards Agency said that the 400g packet may be contaminated by "small pieces of blue plastic." Customers have been urged to return the unsafe sausages to their nearest Morrisons store immediately. You will be able to get a full refund for the product. Morrisons has displayed point of sale notices inside stores selling the sausages. The notices explain the reason for the recall, and provide advice to customers who have purchased them. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issues Product Recall Information Notices to inform consumers and local authorities about issues with food products. They also issue more serious Food Alert for Action notices, which give local authorities specific actions to take on behalf of consumers. If there are concerns regarding the safety of the product, it is either withdrawn or customers are asked to return it to stores. This follows the news that Asda recalled it's Simple To Cook Asian Inspired Pork Belly Slices off the shelves, over serious health fears. Staying Safe with Product Recalls in the UK The supermarket discovered that the product could contain milk and sulphites, which do not appear on the label, so could pose a risk to anyone who is allergic to them. The use by date on affected products is April 25, and the barcode is 5063089827178. A popular kids' dinosaur toy sold on Amazon was also recently recalled due to a "serious risk" of choking. The 3D printed toy was mislabelled, and a young child could smoke on a small part. Your product recall rights 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 The recall notice states that the toy, from China, is now being rejected at the border. And a popular airfryer sold in B&M, Argos, Poundland and Tesco has been recalled due to the risk of it bursting into flames. Customers who have one of four models of the airfryer by Tower are being told to get in touch with the company. Models affected include the T17023 Tower 2.2Ltr Manual Air Fryer, T17061BLK Tower 4Ltr Manual Air Fryer, T17067 Tower 4Ltr Digital Air Fryer and the T17087 Tower 2Ltr Compact Manual Air Fryer. Anyone with an affected device is advised to unplug them and "stop using them immediately." A notice posted on the Tower Housewares' website reads: 'The fault has been deemed low risk by Trading Standards, however the safety and well-being of our customers is our top priority, and we have made the decision to voluntarily recall these models as a precautionary measure. 'The issue has been identified within specific batches of the affected products manufactured between January 2022 – April 2023.'
