Articles by Howard Lloyd

Morrisons shoppers can save £249 - but it comes with a warning

Morrisons is kicking off its Black Friday event with More Card savings of up to 66% across beauty, kitchen, toys, electricals and more - helping customers snap up premium products, for a fraction of the price just in time for the festive season. This Black Friday, gift hunters and cooking crusaders can whisk, blend and brew their way to big savings. The iconic KitchenAid Artisan 4.8L Stand Mixer is now just £300 with a More Card – almost £250 off the original price of £549. For those who love a little indulgence as the festive season draws near, there are sweet-making must-haves too. The George Wilkinson Hot Chocolate Maker is now just £15 with a More Card – a 50% saving on its usual £30 – and whips up velvety hot chocolate that’s perfect for cosy nights in. Designated Christmas hosts can take their dessert offering up a notch this year with the Mini Chocolate Fountain, priced at just £15 with a More Card. Elsewhere, the Giles & Posner Crêpe Maker is £15 with a More Card, down from £21. Coffee lovers can channel their inner barista at home with the Petra Manual Espresso Machine, priced at just £50 with a More Card, saving big against the £70 regular price. For the Harry Potter fans, Morrisons also has the exclusive Harry Potter House Plush toys that are perfect for snuggles, adventures, or decorating a magical bedroom. Now £25 with a More Card (instead of £35), these soft, cozy companions bring a touch of Hogwarts to any fan’s collection. For builders of all ages, LEGO sets are ready to spark creativity and imagination. Starting at £33 with a More Card, sets like LEGO Police Mobile Crime Lab Truck (£33.00, More Card), LEGO’s Wicked Welcome to Emerald City (£60, More Card) and Hagrid's Hut: An Unexpected Visit (£43.00, More Card) let fans bring fantastical worlds to life. Darren Smith, Senior Trader at Morrisons, said: “We know that many customers are looking for ways to make Christmas special without stretching their budgets and we’ve listened. That’s why we’ve introduced a range of early Black Friday deals designed to help spread the cost of the festive season. From thoughtful gifts and home essentials to treats for the whole family, these offers make it easier to plan ahead and enjoy the celebrations.” The deals highlighted launch in-store and select items online from Monday 17th November – customers will need to be quick though, as once they're gone, they're gone. Morrisons Black Friday Deals – w/c 17th November 2025 Kitchen KitchenAid stand mixer in black £549 (£300 More Card) Available in-store KitchenAid stand mixer in cream £549 (£300 More Card) Available in-store Petra Espresso Machine £70 (£50 More Card) Available in-store George Wilkinson Hot Chocolate Maker £30 (£15 More Card) Available in-store Mini Chocolate Fountain £22 (£15 More Card) Available in-store Giles & Posner Crepe Maker £21 (£15 More Card) Available in-store Progress Deep Fill Waffle Maker £20 (£15 More Card) Available in-store Electronics BOSCH Series 2 Bagless Cylinder Vacuum £99 (£65 More Card) Available in-store Toys LEGO Wicked Welcome to Emerald City £90 (£60 More Card) Available in-store LEGO Icons Williams FW14B Nigel Mansell £70 (£46 More Card) Available in-store LEGO Hagrid's Hut: An Unexpected Visit £65 (£43 More Card) Available in-store LEGO Police Mobile Crime Lab Truck £50 (£33 More Card) Available in-store Harry Potter House Plush £35 (£25 More Card) Available in-store Squishmallows Half Pallet £50 (£25 More Card) Available in-store Xootz Bumper Car £130 (£79 More Card) Available in-store Home Teddy Storage Box Cream £20 (£10 More Card) Available in-store Teddy Storage Box Grey £20 (£10 More Card) Available in-store Beauty Radox The Ultimate Relaxing Collection Gift Set £22 (£8 More Card) Available in-store Bayliss & Harding Midnight Cherry Luxury Pamper Gift Set £29 (£10 More Card) Available in-store Baylis & Harding the Fuzzy Duck Bergamot, Hemp & Sandalwood Men's Ultimate Wash Kit Gift Set £29 (£10 More Card) Available in-store Baylis & Harding Wellness The Ultimate Retreat Gift Set £30 (£12 More Card) Available in-store All products are subject to availability and whilst stocks last. Offers/prices may vary at morrisons.com and Morrisons Daily. All prices, descriptions, images and on sale dates are correct at time of issue, but subject to change without notice. When It’s Gone, It’s Gone.

2 hours ago

Health

Little girl rushed to hospital after 'horrific' soft play accident

A four-year-old girl suffered a severe injury following a seemingly harmless accident at a soft play centre. Little Lillie Russell was at the bottom of a slide when another child slid down and crashed into her from behind. This unfortunate incident triggered a condition known as 'accident induced scoliosis' which progressively worsened until her spine was bent at a shocking 70 degrees. She has since undergone three procedures under general anaesthetic in an attempt to straighten her spine - but none of them were successful. Now, three years on, she has to wear a back brace for 22 hours a day and requires surgery to insert metal rods into her spine - a procedure that can't be carried out until she is older. After this, her lengthy journey to recovery should finally conclude at 18, with a final spinal fusion operation. Her mum, Amelia Russell, 34, from Earls Barton in Northamptonshire, said: "You don't expect your children to come back from soft play with such a severe injury. "We received a call saying 'I think Lillie's broken her back but she's not in any pain'. You can't fathom how stressful it was. It was every parent's worst nightmare. I was told that after it happened, she got up and carried on playing. "I looked at her back and thought, 'what on earth has happened? I couldn't believe what I was seeing. We drove her straight to A&E." After finally receiving her diagnosis in the summer of 2023, Lillie underwent three spine stretching procedures under general anaesthetic - one every three months. However, these procedures were unsuccessful, and she now faces a much larger operation, under the care of medical professionals at London's Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, to insert metal rods. Her mother, who also has two other children, Albie, five and Rosie, nine months, with husband Dan, 44, explained: "Under general anaesthetic they put her in a machine to stretch her body and try to straighten out her spine. "After the third operation we realised that it was not correcting. The muscles were wasting. She was only four. It was horrific. During these months she was in a permanent brace. But the curvature was getting worse and worse. The curvature started off at 55 degrees and is now nearly 70 degrees." Amelia and her husband Dan, who together run a successful roofing firm, were busy expanding their business into a multi-million-pound turnover during all the hospital appointments too. She said: "It was an incredibly stressful time, and we didn't have a holiday for a year. Thanks to Staysure we managed to secure insurance and headed to Turkey for some much-needed family time last year. "Staysure were the only company willing to insure us so we could go on holiday. Before the accident, we had typical family holidays, we took them to Disneyland Paris and it was great. "We never thought we'd find a company that would help us because it's quite complex. We're going to Abu Dhabi with them in January, which really helps the whole family at a time when we are in limbo, waiting for Lillie to get to the right weight for the next operation." The couple are now eager to assist others after witnessing the trauma their seven-year-old daughter, Lillie, has endured. They have started an Instagram account @lillielivingwithscoliosis to document their journey and inspire other children living with the condition.Amelia shared: "We began the Instagram account because I'm a positive person and so is she. Lillie is a girly girl who loves unicorns. "But this is her nightmare, and mine too. To watch your daughter noticing herself that she stands differently to her friends is heartbreaking. She says she's got a special back." Sophie Davis, from Staysure, commented: "Lillie is a real inspiration. She has already faced many challenges and has chosen to tell her story to help and support other children and families living with scoliosis. "We're really pleased to be able to help and provide her and her family the protection they need to keep on enjoying family holidays. In the last three years we've covered over 7,000 children living with a wide range of medical conditions from asthma to heart disease, so we know how important it is for families to feel safe and protected when they go abroad."

6 hours ago

Technology

Currys shares top tips to save hundreds of pounds this Black Friday

It is the annual pre-Christmas shopping spree that promises big crowds - and bigger bargains. And Black Friday is likely to be more popular than ever this year with new research revealing 71% of Brits are anxious about the upcoming budget. Four in 10 (42%) plan to save money by doing their Christmas shopping during the event on November 28, with 48% saying it helps them manage festive spending. More than a third (35%) admit the cost-of-living crisis has made them more likely to wait for Black Friday deals. To help shoppers bag a bargain, Currys has shared five top hacks to make the most of your money in the countdown to Christmas. 1. Black Friday sales have already begun, so don’t wait until November 28 While Black Friday is a key date, many deals are already live, and stock can sell out fast. If you see a good price on something you’ve been planning to buy, it’s worth acting sooner rather than later. 2.Look for bundle offersMany retailers offer bundles (eg tech with accessories or extended warranties) that give better value than buying items separately. 3.Trade-in and recycleRecycling old tech is a smart way to save this Christmas. Currys is reintroducing its popular “Double Cash for Trash” initiative, offering £10 off qualifying purchases when customers trade in unwanted electronics - even on items already discounted for Black Friday. 4.Buy older and refurbished models Buying older iterations of tech can save you serious money while still delivering solid performance. And refurbished or open-box items often come with full warranties and significant savings. For tech products, this can be a smart way to get premium features at a lower cost, without compromising on quality. 5.Use Click & Collect to save on delivery fees Choosing in-store pickup is a simple way to avoid delivery charges, especially during the busy festive period. It’s not just about saving money - Click & Collect can also offer added convenience, helping shoppers secure their purchases quickly and reliably. In some cases, retailers may offer exclusive in-store-only deals or early access to stock, making it a smart option for those looking to maximise value while staying ahead of the Christmas rush. Shoppers hunting for great value can find ‘Our Lowest Ever Price’ deals in-store and online at Currys.co.uk from today.

2 days ago

Technology

Driver removes number plate to dodge parking ticket - regrets it immediately

Nobody enjoys receiving a parking fine , which explains why motorists will go to extraordinary measures to dodge them. But one driver confesses they went too far after facing a harsh consequence. The unnamed motorist turned to Reddit to share their predicament. They revealed they had stripped off their number plates while parking at an unnamed UK university to sidestep a parking penalty . The car park did not use automatic numberplate recognition technology (ANPR) but relied on parking wardens instead. The driver discovered upon returning that they had been issued a ticket - not from the warden, but from police officers. They were seeking guidance after learning they could face a £1,000 penalty. The Lancashire-based user explained: "I had removed my registration plates and placed them in my vehicle in a private car park in a university where parking enforcement is in operation but no ANPR cameras, just attendants. "After returning to my vehicle a couple of hours later, I noticed a "FIXED PENALTY NOTICE" sticker attached to my windshield. However, once I opened this, there was no penalty notice, but a note from Lancashire Constabulary Neighborhood Police. "The note read: 'It is an offence to not display your vehicles number plates. Your vehicle details have been passed on to the police road traffic dept'. "And on the reverse of the note, it has my VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on it'. I presumed that as I was on private land there would be no requirement to display a registration mark. I noticed on the government's website that if you drive without a correct registration then you could be fined up to £1,000. However, as I was not driving, I did not see an issue." They later confessed: "I've realised that this was a stupid thing to do, and won't be doing it again. However, now that this has happened, I do not know what will happen next. A note saying that my VIN number has been passed on to the Road Traffic department doesn't really tell me what is going to come of this." The Government's official website confirms that drivers could face a fine of up to £1,000 and likely fail their MOT if they're caught driving with an incorrectly displayed or missing number plate. It further clarifies: "Number plates (also known as licence plates) must show your registration number correctly. You cannot rearrange letters or numbers, or alter them so that they're hard to read." It is a legal requirement in the UK for vehicles to display number plates on both the front and rear while driving on public roads.

Oct 26, 2025