The pattern is named after the European dance craze, but what exactly the dots have to do with polka is a bit of a mystery.

When you want to perfect your picnic prowess, there’s a fine line between packing too much – and falling short because you’ve forgotten something vital. After all, an outdoor feast requires a few little extras to make it a joyous occasion… as much as we love the idea of being spontaneous, unfurling a blanket and hoping for the best! Here’s what’s top of our picnic packing list… 1. Thermal Travel Mugs, £28 each, Neonimo With a cute cassette print and retro feel, nothing beats a fancy flask for hot and cold drinks on the move. 2. Raffia Placemats in Pink or Sage, £21 for pack of two, Talking Tables When you want to mix it up a bit and bring a boho vibe to picnics in the park and music festivals, these trendy raffia placemats are sassy and stylish. 3. Wicker Picnic Basket with Red and White Gingham, £45, Maison Cherie Think shady olive grove, cheese, baguette, bottle of red… and this classic basket with red gingham topper perfectly completing the scene. Also features an insulated cooler and inner pocket for bamboo cutlery. 4. Waterproof Paisley Outdoor Rug, currently £15 (was £40), other items from a selection, Talking Tables Even when there’s been a long, dry spell, morning dew and dirt can put a damp squib on your al fresco spread. This pretty paisley pattern is waterproof and lightweight. 5. Folksy Teal Bee Deckchair, £149.99, Perkins & Morley For some, sitting on the ground for long periods isn’t a comfy option. With its colourful canvas sling, this bright deckchair will look fab in a sun room or on the patio when picnic season is over. Folds flat when not in use. 6. Sophie Allport Cocktails Melamine Plates, from £10.50; Beaker, £7.50, and Cocktails Picnic Blanket, £48, other items from a selection, Sophie Allport If ready-made cocktails are on the cards, these funky plates and picnic blanket with their whimsical illustrations will work a treat. 7. Multicolour Classic Bell Tent in Harlequin, from £239, Boutique Camping Sunshine or showers, this safari style tent sets the scene for sundowners, summer socials and glamping inspired get-togethers. Features include zippable windows, detachable groundsheet and space to shade your cooler box. 8. Strawberries Picnic Bag, £47.50, other items from a selection, Sophie Allport The quintessential summertime fruit, a picnic wouldn’t be a picnic without a punnet of strawbs… and this snazzy 22-litre cooler bag will keep the cream chilled in style. 9. Marks & Spencer Set of 4 Summer Fruits Picnic Side Plates, £12; Set of 4 Summer Fruits Picnic Dinner Plates, £15, and Set of 4 Summer Fruits Picnic Highballs, £15, other items from a selection, Marks & Spencer Even a picnic pallet or trestle table loves a tablescape, especially when you blend citrus brights and colour clash with fun extras such as mismatched candle holders, and wild flowers spilling from an eye-catching vase or jam jar. 10. ProCook Picnic Basket – 2 Person, £49.99, ProCook Romantic rendezvous or coastal inspired field trip, this wicker hamper with a nautical striped interior contains two of everything: stainless steel forks, knives and spoons, plus plates, wine glasses and corkscrew. Cheers! Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live These are the female players who paved the way for the Lionesses Karen Carney: It’s amazing we’re all talking about the Women’s World Cup Nearly half of women feel ‘too unfit’ to enjoy exercise this summer – how to overcome fitness fear

If you’re wearing jeans, you’ll probably spot some tiny metal rivets surrounding the front pockets. Like a lot of details in life, we’ve become accustomed to seeing them. So why are they there?

Australia extends the age limit to 35 for Brits who want to live and work down under.

He publishes his contract details amid a row about payments RTÉ made to his predecessor Ryan Tubridy.

Some say the bolder the better. Especially high summer time when the sun’s streaming in – contrasting colours can create a collage-like effect, making everything look so much lovelier. Whether its pops of pink or playful prints, here’s how to get your graphic groove on with these happy hues and cheerful furnishings… 1. Honeycomb Jug Kettle 1.7L, £36.99; Four Slot Toaster, £42.99, The Range Bring a ray of sunshine to brekkie with this buttercup yellow kettle and toaster. 2. Palmilla Dinner Plate, (Set of 4), £71.96, rest of items from a selection, Wayfair From tropical fruit salads to salsa and dips, this melamine tableware with its tropical flower print will make every meal taste more exotic. 3. Colourful Marbled Bamboo Tumblers, £9 each, Rockett St George With their abstract swirls and pretty hues, these tasty tumblers signal sundowners. 4. Pablo Coasters, Set of 4, £7.95; Pablo Placemats, Set of 4, £25, Graham & Green These stylish seagrass placemats and coasters channel a Mediterranean vibe – we love their artisanal feel. 5. Lucy Tiffney at Next Ceramic Jug, £30, Next Pretty as a picture, this arty jug can double as a vase – and makes a beautiful statement with or without a fresh bouquet. 6. Gems Champagne/Cocktail Glass, £50, Set of 4; Tumbler, £45, Set of 4, LSA International If you’re looking to drink some summer bubbles, these minty green coupes have champagne cocktail written all over them. 7. Bombay Duck Colourful Carnival Pouffe, £150, Joe Browns A fabulous fusion of function and form, a pouffe can double up as a tabletop, footstool and accent piece to style up a curated corner. This one’s sure to please with its floral fiesta. 8. Sketch Rug in Confetti, from £95; Cut Velvet Cushion, £22, rest of items from a selection, Next This tufted wool rug has timeless appeal. Versatile enough to style up Scandi schemes, it’s also right at home with boho luxe interiors. 9. Sheridan Maplewood Quilt Cover Set in Pea, King, £69.50 (was £139), Sheridan Big blooms are all the rage and this lush, emerald green quilt cover evokes thoughts of a tropical island escape. 10. Negroni Framed Wall Art, £49.50, Oliver Bonas Sometimes even the simplest of recipes can make a showpiece. 11. John Lewis + Matthew Williamson Sunshine Beach Towel, Mustard and Blue, £20 each, John Lewis When you want to bathe in colour, these designer beach towels with their punchy pattern are right on point.

The mayor weighed in over pushback on plans to reduce emissions from wood and coal-fired pizza ovens.

Summer really is a time to shine – and we’re not just talking about the weather. From sun-filled schemes to sipping sundowners in style on balmy evenings, it’s only natural we’d want to filter out the shadows and welcome in some summer decor updates. Think luminous decos and glimmering touches of gold. This is about channelling some of that sunny feel-good factor – much like we do with a sweep of bronzer and touch of shimmery lip gloss. Here are 10 ways to work a hint radiance at home this summer… 1. Set of 4 Grapefruit Plates, £45, Rockett St George For a citrusy twist to your summer tablescape, these gorgeous grapefruit plates come in lemon yellow, lime, orange and pink for mouth-watering starters and salads. 2. Gold Multi Tea Light Holder, £45, Graham & Green Play up the glamour with this striking gold centrepiece, which creates a harmonious blend of candlelight and artisan metalwork. Holds nine tealights. 3. Lauren Stemless Balloon Glasses With Gold-Rim – Pair, £24, Dress For Dinner Your best bubbles – be it fizz, a G&T or vodka and soda – will taste that much more delicious in trendy stemware without the stem! We love the glitzy gold rims. 4. Irregular Lustre Glass Flower Vase, £28, Next From fancy florals to faux ferns, this glistening vase makes a real statement with its voguish curves. And it’ll capture the light beautifully at this time of year. 5. Gatsby Marble Drinks Trolley, £349, Atkin And Thyme The pinnacle of proffering cocktails, this Art Deco style drinks trolley with marble top and glass base is a dream to dress up. From decadent decanters to crystal barware, a showy centrepiece to steal the spotlight. 6. John Lewis Pineapple Cocktail Shaker, £28, John Lewis And for the finishing touch, this charming silver and gold cocktail shaker is tailor-made for budding mixologists. Fun and fruity, what’s not to love? 7. Set of 3 Gold Swallow Wall Art Plaques, £20, Next A flight of fancy, plus a symbol of good fortune and luck, these gold swallows will make a graceful addition to a feature wall. 8. Gold Lobster Wall Décor, £75, Graham & Green Our favourite summer catch of the day? We’re going for gold with this striking lobster decoration. 9. STAR By Julien Macdonald Gold Metal Floral Frame Round Wall Mirror, currently £70 (was £100), Freemans This fabulous floral frame mirror will beam sunlight around your space, and provide an instant style update with its standout design. 10. Fab Hab Sydney Outdoor Rug in Gold & Cream, from £99.95, Cuckooland It’s amazing how a striking throw rug can spruce up your outdoor space – with underfoot comfort thrown in for good measure. This one’s made from recycled plastic bottles and is mildew resistant. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How – and why – to prioritise mindfulness in the busyness of summer 5 sandal trends that will be huge this summer 6 triggers asthma sufferers should watch out for this summer

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Malta, Gozo and Comino are the three inhabited islands that make up the Mediterranean nation of Malta. From the world's oldest prehistoric temples to family-friendly beaches and top notch scuba diving, this diverse archipelago really has something for everyone.

With a sunny weekend on the cards and blue skies beckoning us outdoors, chances are you’re checking out that precious patio – or gift of greenery – for eating in the open air. From prepping your garden furniture to sharpening your table-scaping skills, here’s everything you’ll need for a fun-loving summer of colourful entertaining… 1. Sienna White Speckled Glass Jug, £29; Sienna White Speckled Glass Tumblers, Set of 4, £29, ProCook Can’t wait to proffer your first jug of Pimm’s? Neither can we and this stylish speckled jug is just the job for all those tasty strawbs, sliced oranges and sprigs of mint. 2. Nectar Outdoor Sofa Set – Green, £799, Dobbies It’s not every day you splash out on a sofa to soak up the sunshine, so may as well make it one to set the tone for comfy outdoor living with a lick of luxe. This one features a single chair, large L-shaped double sofa with two cushions, single footstool and attractive terrazzo top coffee table. 3. Lemon Picnic Platter, £10; Set of 4 Summer Fruits Picnic Dinner Plates, £15; Set of 4 Summer Fruits Picnic Side Plates, £15; Large Lemon Picnic Bowl, £10; Set of 2 Lemon Outdoor Cushions, £25; rest of items from a selection, Marks & Spencer Lemons are currently basking in the limelight and trending on tableware – they not only look mouth-watering, but are an instant summery update. 4. John Lewis Salsa 2-Seater Garden Sofa, Two Tone Yellow, £165, John Lewis Surely the brightest way to pimp up a patio is with a posh polyweave statement sofa in sunshine yellow. Designed to be outdoors all summer long, it will look just as sultry in a sun room or conservatory. 5. Ooni Fyra Pizza Oven, £299, Dobbies Billed as the next best thing to a traditional stone pizza oven, this Ooni Fyra fuelled by energy-efficient wood pellets turns out the tastiest pizza – and promises to put the pow-wow into your pepperoni and nicest into a Neapolitan. Super speedy and versatile, it also loves fish, veggies and burgers. 6. Natural Slogan Straw Effect Outdoor Cushion, £14; Orange Reversible Outdoor Cushion, £14, right; Orange Leaf Outdoor Cushion, £10, far left and far right; Multicoloured String Lantern, £25, Matalan An easy update, a handful of scatter cushions in sunny shades will breathe new life into tired garden furniture… and channel some holiday vibes teamed with a colourful lantern. 7. Flamingo Plastic Picnicware: Set of 4 Tumbler Glasses, £16; Set of 4 Wine Glasses, £18; Jug, £18; Set of 2 bowls, £18; Yellow Lemon Picnic Serve Platter, £15; rest of items from a selection, Next When life gives you lemons… team them with pretty pink flamingos to cheer your friends. 8. French Pink/Antique White Stripe Large Tassel Fringed Beach And Garden Parasol, currently £220 from £235, Staycation! Vintage Style Parasols A showstopper of a sunshade, this candy stripe parasol imbibes thoughts of laid-back beach holidays and long, lazy lunches. With 32mm solid beachwood pole, multi-position tilt function and matching fabric carry bag, this A-list accessory offers UV50+ protection from the sun’s harmful rays. 9. Boutique Camping Fire Pit, currently £139 from £149, Boutique Camping Combining function with form, as we spend more evenings outside, the warming flames of a fire pit not only look radiant, but soothe the soul with their mesmerising flame. Just add wood or coals to the steel bowl. 10. John Lewis ANYDAY Mase Indoor/Outdoor Rug, Blue, L180 x W120cm, £100; Palm Grove Indoor/Outdoor Cushions, Cobalt, £12 each; John Lewis ANYDAY 2-Seater Metal Garden Sofa, Light Blue, £129; John Lewis ANYDAY Metal Garden Lounge Chair, Light Blue, £79, John Lewis When you want to slip into a relaxing, Mediterranean vibe, this pale blue seating with woven rug made from recycled water bottles is one way to visualise light breezes and beautiful views. 11. Sur La Table Bamboo Salad Bowl, £25; Bamboo Salad Spoons, £12; Green, Orange and Blue Cereal Bowls, £9 each; Pasta Bowls, £11 each; rest of items from a selection, Pure Table Top This Colour Me Happy range of striking serveware is another way to treat yourself to a colourful menu… Bon appétit! Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Why going sober could be the key to fitness success 5 of this summer’s hottest swimwear trends Teenagers with obesity should be offered weight loss drug, say experts