Crossing the finish line of my ultramarathon, tears immediately began to fall.

For the past seven hours, I’d battled torrential rain and wind, grappled with 6,000ft terrains and pushed through exhaustion.

Because six weeks earlier, I’d finished treatment for stage 3 breast cancer, and better yet, I’m now in complete remission. 

I found the lump early – specifically, while in the supermarket on a Sunday in October 2024 – when I just happened to brush my breast and accidentally knocked the hard pea-sized lump. 

Immediately, I froze in the queue with fear. ‘That’s never been there before,’ I thought to myself and booked an urgent appointment at my local GP for the next morning.

To my relief, my doctor thought it was just a fatty lump, but referred me for my first ever mammogram just to be safe. I thought it would be a waste of time.  

That same day, I had two mammograms and a biopsy. The day after that, I had a further 15 biopsies.

Still, I sat in the waiting room expecting all would be well. And when I saw three doctors enter a nearby room, I assumed someone else was going to get bad news.

Then they called my name.

I was told that my cells looked ‘suspicious in nature’ and that my official results would be ready in a fortnight – that’s a long time to wait when you’re terrified of the outcome.

Sure enough, in mid-November, the results and my doctor confirmed it: I had stage 3 HER2-positive breast cancer.

This type of breast cancer means that the cancer cells make too much of a protein called HER2, which enables cancer cells to grow and spread more rapidly. In my case, the cancer had already spread from my breast to nearby lymph nodes. 

For a moment I simply sat in disbelief.

I would need chemotherapy first to shrink the size of the tumour and then a mastectomy followed by radiotherapy. This was real, and it was happening to me.

I didn’t tell my two children the news at first: I’d got the results just before my son’s sixteenth birthday and I wanted him to enjoy his party.

Eventually though, after about a week of trying to act normally, I sat them down with their dad and began one of the hardest conversations I’ve ever had.

‘I’ve got breast cancer,’ I told them plainly. My daughter got upset but my son didn’t say anything, which was equally worrying. I quickly added that ‘doctors are certain that I’ll survive this.’

However, even I hadn’t absorbed how potentially serious this was – I was very naive about the treatment I was about to receive and was focused on trying to remain positive.

On 18 December 2024 I started my six rounds of chemotherapy. I completely lost my voice at one point and everything tasted like battery acid – both of which are common side effects for chemo patients. I couldn’t even eat the chocolates people had bought me, and I swapped my Christmas dinner for ice lollies.

Strangely though, I found those days of having chemotherapy actually enjoyable. I was surrounded by lovely nurses and other cancer patients going through the same thing and we’d all just sit and chat.

The only thing that upset me was seeing how scared my children were. 

One day, I gave my son a big hug and asked if he wanted to talk about it, and he just asked me if I was going to die. I told him I had to get sick to get better but that I would get better.

I think the thing that really helped put both mine and the children’s minds at ease though was seeing me keep fairly active between chemo rounds.

Although it sometimes felt like I was running through quicksand when I was walking the dog or completing some slow, short trail runs, I would feel strong and positive. And the closer I got to the end of chemo, the more resilient I became.

In April 2025, I was told I’d had a pathologic complete response (pCR) to the chemo – no cancerous cells showed up on the MRI, the invasive breast cancer was gone.

Even though I had more treatment to go, I was so relieved. I’d always worried it might spread further, but this result gave me a fighting chance.

My mastectomy followed in May 2025. I lost one breast, but not my positive attitude.

The day after I came home I went for a short walk. Two weeks after that, I went for a gentle run and gradually increased my distance. By the time I started radiotherapy in July 2025, I’d set myself a challenge to run after every treatment.

The first mile or two was always hard work – radiotherapy doesn’t affect your immune system the way chemo does, but it does make you tired – and sometimes I’d cry, but I’d always push through. Ultimately, I always finished happy, feeling grateful for the beautiful surroundings.

After the 15th and final round of radiotherapy, I decided to organise an ultramarathon in the Peak District, to raise money for Cancer Research.

While it was mostly for me – I wanted to get my life back on track and prove I could do it – I also wanted my children to see that, even after something so challenging, you can come back stronger. 

Despite the stormy weather, over 15 people turned out to support me, I had a blast and raised £4,000 for Cancer Research. 

The past year has been incredibly hard, emotional and unpredictable. I never thought cancer would happen to me, but if I’ve learned anything, it’s that early detection can save lives.

My doctor told me that if I’d found the lump just six months later, we might have been looking at secondary cancer and my story could have had a very different ending. 

Instead, despite some fatigue from ongoing cancer and hormone treatment, my health is getting stronger every day and I’m able to look to the future.

I’ll have mammograms once a year but I also have many more races ahead of me – including a 30-mile event in Portugal next month – and I can’t wait to get started.

On your marks. Check your breasts. Go.

As told to Sarah Haselwood

A version of this story was published on October 24

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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A woman has revealed she spent a huge amount of money on her partner funding his lifestyle – all to discover how he really felt by reading his journal and his confession

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Remember summer? Nah, us neither. Gone are the days when you could hang your washing outside in the morning and have it bone dry by lunchtime. Sob.

The weather is wet and nippy, and drying a huge heap of clothes feels like a mammoth task. Not to mention whacking on the heating has us feeling like we might need to sell a kidney just to pay for the next bill.

But customers have raved about this Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Clothes Airer, which costs just 9p per hour to run and is now £40 off at £204.98.

Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer and Cover Bundle

Struggling with laundry on rainy days? The Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer and Cover Bundle offers an energy-efficient, space-saving solution that dries clothes quickly and gently. With 21m of drying space, a dual-purpose cover to speed up drying, and a foldable design for easy storage, it’s perfect for homes without outdoor drying options.

Buy Now for £204.98 (was £244.98) – save £40

The impressive design offers 21 metres of drying space across 36 heated bars, and it can hold up to 15kg of washing. It claims to be able to hold two loads, but one customer insisted she was getting SIX dry in one go. 

It’s a far better solution to drying clothes on the radiator, which can damage materials and prevent the heat from circulating around your home. Plus, it’s a cheaper alternative to a tumble dryer, which can be as expensive as 75p per hour to run.

For added safety, the Dry:Soon airer also has a built-in timer that can be set from 1 to 12 hours, and automatically switches off once the time has elapsed.

And you can even accessorise this bad boy, adding the Dry:Soon Deluxe 3-Tier Heated Airer Cover to trap heat in and get clothes dryer faster, or the Dry:Soon Deluxe Mesh Shelf Duo which are perfect for your delicates.

‘Wow, why didn’t I order this sooner, it’s fantastic!’ Mrs Tesi said in her review, adding that the clothes dry within hours, and it prevents her home from smelling like damp.

‘This is a game changer,’ Mrs Hunter insisted in her feedback. ‘I honestly wish I had of purchased it ages ago. I know it can seem a bit expensive for a clothes airer at first, and like me a lot of people probably kept adding it to basket, yet never continued with the purchase. But definitely do it!

‘I still haven’t used my tumble dryer. And won’t again most likely. Even in the winter I don’t intend to use it. Also the hanging space allowed me to hang 6 loads of washing on it! And then I leave it on over night and in the morning, it’s bone dry. Also another perk is some clothes don’t need ironed!’

If you’re short on space, it doesn’t take up precious floor room and it’s easy to store away when you’re not using it. 

And can you really put a price on the satisfaction from six loads of washing dried in one go? It’s an unparalleled rush.

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Westfield is a Mecca for London shoppers, teeming with everything from high street stores to fine jewellery brands, and food halls to furniture showrooms.

But the UK’s Westfield offerings will soon no longer be limited to the White City and Stratford malls.

The iconic shopping brand is venturing outside the capital, for the first time, to open its first Westfield shopping centre in Edinburgh.

St James’ Quarter, in the heart of the Scottish capital’s East End, has been acquired by retail titan Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW), and will be rebranded as a Westfield centre in 2026.

The four-floor Scottish shopping galleria currently had more than 80 brands like & Other Stories, Bershka, H&M, and Zara. It also has a boutique Everyman cinema, and even places to stay like Roomzzz Aparthotels and W Edinburgh.

There’s plenty of food and drink options, too. From Duck & Waffle, Five Guys, Pret, and Wingstop – you’ll be spoiled for choice.

Just a two-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley, with an indoor-outdoor layout, the shopping centre, which opened in 2021, spans 80,000sqm and sits among the top 20 highest-footfall retail destinations in Europe.

Westfield owners URW plan to ‘elevate [St James’ Quarter’s] performance by leveraging our retail operations and media expertise, as well as bringing the globally recognised Westfield brand to the destination’.

The group already has 66 shopping centres in 11 countries , 40 of which adopt the famous Westfield brand. These centres see more than 900million annual visits each year.

Both existing UK Westfield locations are incredibly popular, with Westfield Stratford City attracting 50million shoppers each year alone.

It first opened back in September 2011 and sits at the gateway to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic park, boasting more than 300 UK and international brands, as well as having the country’s largest All Star Lands bowling alley.

Westfield London (in White City), is similarly successful, considering it’s continental Europe’s biggest shopping and leisure destination. It opened in 2008 and now has nearly 500 brands from food to clothing and jewellery to homeware.

As of now, it seems the URW has no plans to significantly change the offerings at St James’ Quarter, and the new name of the shopping centre is yet to be announced.

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Ever heard of something called the wine sweet spot?

In a nutshell, it’s the Goldilocks amount of money to spend on a bottle of wine.

The price should get you a decent quality drink, from a producer that isn’t exploiting its workers, with a price tag that won’t cripple you financially.

What is the price? Well, it starts from £8, any less than that and we’re dealing with the law of diminishing returns.

And the sweet spot caps out at around £15, so you don’t want to be spending much more than that, especially when at the supermarket.

It all goes back to February of this year, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that tax on a bottle of vino in the UK is now decided on by alcoholic strength, to disincentivise people from drinking higher strength bottles.

Before then, there was something in place called ‘alcohol easement’, which simplified alcohol excise duty by taxing all wines between 11.5% and 14.5% ABV as though they were 12.5% ABV.

To help get your head around the new system, you can use Bibendum’s ‘Vinonomics’ guide, which shows you, visually, what you are paying for in a given bottle of wine.

For instance, on an £8 bottle of wine at 12.5% ABV, excise duty has risen by 10p a bottle, to £2.77, but you’re only paying £1.56 for the actual wine, meaning that the increase has gone into the retail price. The rest is made up of the retailer margin, VAT, packaging and logistics.

Interestingly, if you’re buying a £15 bottle at 12.5% ABV, the money you’ve spent on the actual wine shoots up to £4.16, illustrating that the more you pay, the better the quality of the wine you’ll be drinking.

Move up higher, alcohol-wise, to 13% ABV, and the duty goes up to £2.88 a bottle, and on 13.5%, £2.99 of the price you pay for a bottle of wine is tax.

If you think about it though, at the other end of the price spectrum, all the same factors are in place on a £5 bottle of wine, so you’ll only actually be paying pennies for the wine in the bottle.

Really though, it all depends on how much you can afford, as £15 for a mid-week session wine is over my budget.

So, if you can get to it, I’d say £8 to £10 is the price you want to be hovering around. And, here are some of my recent favourites within that price bracket:

Waitrose, Blueprint Californian Chardonay, USA, 13% ABV, £8

Look out for ‘Lodi’ on Californian wine bottles, this region in the central valley of California is an Aladdin’s cave of old vines and grape varieties from Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. More Chardonnay is grown than any other white grape, and they do it well, with opulent and creamy flavours of custard apple, macadamia nut and a deliciously peachy finish.  

Tesco Finest Soave Superiore Classico, Italy, 13% ABV, £8.50

Soave gets a bad rap for being bland and neutral. Not this one, given that a proportion of  of the Garganega grapes have been left to age in small oak barrels for 10 months. This gives the wine a lovely buttery, mineral, opulent-yet-still-bone-dry flavour with a lip-smacking freshness on the finish. The correct pronunciation is ‘so-ah-vey’, not ‘so-w-ve’. In case you’re wondering.

Morrisons The Best Pecorino, Italy, 13% ABV, £8.50

Hands down, one of the best whites I tried at Morrisons’ recent autumn/winter tasting event. This white is dry, super ripe, juicy, orchard appley and blooming delicious. Pecora means ‘sheep’ in Italian; the hungry creatures that grazed amongst the vines and made a snack of the grapes. So, we’re renaming this, ‘the sheep wine’.

Tesco Finest Valle de Leyda Chardonnay, Chile, 13% ABV, £9

The Tesco wine range is really delivering at the moment, teeming with award-winning wines like this one. A silver medal winner at the prestigious IWSC (international wine and spirits competition), you can see why. Fresh, rich, slightly savoury in style, saline and lemon sherbety. It’s made by a cracking producer in Luis Felipe Edwards, which explains the top quality.

Baron de Guers Piquepoul Rosé, France, 11% ABV, Sainsbury’s, £10

I’m all in favour of rosé in autumn/winter, it’s a style that should be sipped year-round. This ripe and peachy rosé is unusually crafted from the Piquepoul grape, along with 25% Grenache for additional richness and colour. Vineyards are on the Mediterranean side of the Languedoc region in southern France, hence the wine tastes sun-drenched and coastal fresh.

Waitrose Blueprint Malbec, Argentina, 13% ABV, £8

This is exceptional value for wine from the Uco Valley in Argentina; the benchmark region for Malbec, high altitude at the foothills of the Andes. The altitude and cooler temperature gives the wines a beautiful freshness, lovely texture, plum, damson and a delightful cherry sourness on the finish.

Exceptional by Asda Barossa Valley Shiraz, 14.5% ABV, Australia, £8.03

If you’re looking for intensity in a wine, this is your bottle. Made predominantly from Shiraz, with a small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Syrah for added voluptuousness. It’s all black fruits, juicy bramble fruit, beefy tannins (not literally) with a balanced finish. A mouthful of winter, basically.

Co-op Irresistible Carignan, France, 14% ABV, £8.15

A perky, medium-bodied red with boat loads of black cherry and violet notes, and some top draw intensity to it. From the Maule Valley in Chile, with an abundance of old vines, which are famous for delivering concentration and complexity. There’s a fun rusticity to it, making it a fantastic mid-week, casual sipper.

Grao Vasco Dao Vinho Tinto DOC 2023, Portugal, 13% ABV, Tesco, £8.50

For me, Portuguese reds are the wine equivalent of a super comfortable, good quality pillow; soft and silky with plump, juicy black fruit. This one is a great case in point, with plush, plummy fruit and a spicy kick on the finish. It’s made form Tinta Roriz and Touriga Nacional, two of the main port-producing grapes, hence the pillowy texture.   

Chateau Les Trois Manoirs Medoc, France, 13% ABV, Aldi, £8.99

Merlot-dominant, which is unusual for the Médoc on the left bank, as it’s normally a Cabernet Sauvignon haven. I’ve put in my tasting notes, ‘very gluggable, soft tannins, plums and chocolate’, along with 3/3 stars. For under £10, this is great value and we’re still squarely in the sweet spot wine zone.

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There’s only one thing better than a good pair of sneakers. That’s a good pair of sneakers that you can go hard in on their first wear.

Clarks are known for their comfortable trainers, but I wouldn’t say I’ve been particularly drawn to their style. Functional, sure, and the Wallabees were solidified as the shoe of cool by the Wu-Tang Clan, but not something I felt I’d ever personally pull off.

Oh, how I’m eating my words upon spotting the Tor 80 trainers.

For decades, Clarks Originals have been the unofficial uniform of artists, musicians, and tastemakers who, as the brand brags, ‘don’t follow trends – they create them’ (something no one has ever said about me, but I’ll try and fake it with the shoes at least). 

People much cooler than I have riffed about the shoes in pop culture over the years, from the aforementioned Wu-Tang Clan rapping about the Wallabee moccasin in their 2000 song Gravel Pit, to Oasis’ Noel Gallagher creating his own version of the brand’s famous Desert Boot.

The shoes have appeared on album covers, in films, and on the feet of cultural pioneers, as well as, now, this here writer.

So, to my trainers, sporting a fetching leopard print pattern (something I consider a neutral), I knew I had to get these bad boys on my trotters. But having spent far too many of my days over the years nursing open blisters and wounds, I was weary of yet another period of breaking in a new pair of kicks.

Still, style is pain (or something like that), so I hit select, waited for delivery and slipped those babies on to see how close I could get to 10k steps in the first go.

Foolish, or hopeful?

First of all, let’s see what I liked about the Clarks Tor 80.

Visually, they’re sleeker than I expected. With a leather suede exterior, they’re a pair I’d wear to the office, to the bar, to the markets or weekend brunch. When you’re dropping premium dosh on a pair of trainers, you want them to be versatile in several environments. These tick that box.

Secondly, it’s a solid shoe. So solid I needed to steal my husband’s shoehorn to get my feet in. But once in, they felt snug and secure – but still with a little give that suggests they’ll mould more to my feet over time.

When it comes to the platform, a classic Clarks natural crepe rubber sole gives this 5-foot-2 writer a little height, which is never a bad thing, but it’s not too high I feel precarious when dashing down Tube station steps. 

Ok, were there any cons?

Let’s get the elephant out of the room: I didn’t manage the sought-after (and incredibly arbitrary) 10k steps I set out to achieve on the first outing.

I started strong, breezing into my local common on the way to brunch, a 40-minute walk away, but after 20 minutes I felt the pesky whisper of rub on my right heel and after 7k steps I had to tap out, duck into Boots for a plaster and get the bus home.

Miraculously, and curiously, my left foot remained unblemished. Podiatrists and gait researchers, make of that what you will.

What I will say is that on the second wear, armed with a pre-applied plaster, I’ve had no grief from the shoe. So, so far, it’s only been a first-time wear issue and a win in my eyes.

Elsewhere, as the shoes are in their snug era and I wait for a little give in the leather, I can’t fit my orthopaedic inserts in. Riveting, right? Luckily, in the meantime, the arch support is solid, the shoe’s sole is rock hard and my ankle and heel are nicely enveloped so I don’t feel the need to force the inserts in.

Everything has a silver lining eh?

I’d say they’re proving a worthwhile investment, which is pretty great timing for you, seeing as the brand is celebrating its enduring legacy as a cultural icon with prices slashes on a load of Originals.

From my beloved Tor 80 – down from £135 to £65 – to the famed Wallabee – down from £145 to £115 – there is a saving to be had.

For more information and to shop the collection, visit Clarks Originals.

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Halloween is creeping up fast – but don’t panic, there’s still time to turn your home (or yourself) into something spooktacular.

Whether you’re hosting a party, heading out for one, or just staying in and raiding the trick-or-treat stash, we’ve found everything you need to make October 31 one to remember.

From pumpkin-shaped jars and ghostly string lights to cute cushions and candle holders, the high street is bursting with Halloween gems. And yes, we’ve even thrown in a few fancy-dress picks and beauty buys that’ll make it look like you’ve at least tried – even if you haven’t.

Talking of costumes, Domino’s is serving up the ultimate Halloween costume for couples with its limited-edition human-sized pizza box outfits – one for pizza, one for sides. Designed to resemble the brand’s iconic packaging, these hilarious, free costumes are available to just 75 lucky pairs via dominoshalloween.com.

Easy to wear and instantly recognisable, they’re perfect for mates or dates looking to bring some cheesy charm to their spooky celebrations. Entries close at 23:59 on October 26, so act fast to snag this snack-inspired look.

Now who’s ready to shop our really ‘ghoul’ picks of the week? Because we are.

Primark 10pk Halloween Pumpkin Decorations

A set of ten mini pumpkin decorations perfect for bringing a cosy, seasonal feel to your space.

Buy Now for £2

Argos Home Happy Halloween Grey Kids Bedding Set – Single

One side features a lively Halloween scene filled with skeletons, bats, spiderwebs, pumpkins, and ghosts. Flip it over for a friendlier vibe, with a cheerful parade of ghouls. It’s the perfect way to wrap up warm and drift off into spooky (but sweet) dreams.

Buy Now for £9

Anthropologie The Bistro Tile Stoneware Cannister: Halloween Edition

The fan-favourite Bistro Tile Collection gets a spooky seasonal twist, featuring deep midnight tones, whimsical nighttime creatures, and a touch of French charm – finished with a dash of 24k gold. It’s the perfect way to elevate your Halloween table with a little eerie elegance.

Buy Now for £36

M&S Striped Pumpkin Cushion

Add a playful touch to your seasonal décor with this striped pumpkin cushion. Its bold monochrome design brings a modern twist to Halloween styling, while the soft bouclé-style fabric offers both comfort and charm – perfect for cosying up your living space.

Buy Now for £10.50 (was £15)

Dunelm Set of 3 Hocus Pocus Spooky Ghost Ornaments

Add a dash of Halloween humour to your home with this trio of Hocus Pocus ghost ornaments. Each ghost brings its own quirky charm, spelling out ‘SPOOKY’ in bold orange letters. Two wear classic black hats, while the one in the middle sports a striped bow – because even ghosts love a bit of flair!

Buy Now for £18

Jellycat Mummy Bob

Mummy Bob is a Halloween treat expert, known for his creatively packaged sweets and bold flavour combinations. His standout creation, Mallow Mischief, became a hit thanks to its gooey texture and surprising flavours like pickled egg and honey.

Buy Now for £33

Primark Pumpkin Shaped Butter Dish

A ceramic butter dish shaped like a pumpkin, perfect for adding a seasonal touch to your kitchen or dining table.

Buy Now for £3 (was £6)

M&S Boo Slogan Cushion

Give your sofa a seasonal twist with this eye-catching cushion featuring a bold 'Boo' slogan. The standout lettering contrasts playfully against a classic chequered backdrop, making it a fun and festive addition to your Halloween décor.

Buy Now for £13.65 (was £19.50)

H&M 3-Piece Cotton Jersey Set

This three-piece baby set includes a soft cotton jersey bodysuit, trousers, and an accessory, all designed for comfort and easy changing, with thoughtful details like press-studs, a foldover waistband, and cuffed hems.

Buy Now for £9.99

Dunelm Ceramic Ghost Candle Holder

Bring a playful glow to your Halloween décor with this Ceramic Ghost Candle Holder. Crafted from durable ceramic and shaped like a charming ghost, it holds a single tealight to cast a warm, inviting light – perfect for adding a fun, spooky touch to any room.

Buy Now for £3.50

TK Maxx Wellesley Manor Harvest Pumpkin Scented Stacked Pumpkins

The Harvest Pumpkin Scented Stacked Pumpkins by Wellesley Manor is a decorative autumn piece featuring three stacked pumpkins in a warm orange tone, infused with a cosy harvest pumpkin scent. It adds both seasonal charm and subtle fragrance to any room.

Buy Now FOR £9.99

AliExpress Thing Hand Toy

Inspired by the Addams Family’s iconic character, this Thing Hand Toy is a spooky and fun Halloween decoration. Made from durable PVC, it’s designed as a realistic latex figurine that mimics the look of a crawling hand.

Perfect for desktop displays, party props, or haunted house setups, it adds a creepy touch to your seasonal décor. The hand comes in a neutral tone and is not a smart device or customisable. It’s styled in an American horror theme and is lightweight enough for easy placement around the home.

Buy Now for 76p

New Look Bright Purple Halloween Happy Howl O Ween Sausage Dog Ankle Socks

These bright purple socks, featuring a playful sausage dog Halloween print, are a fun and festive way to step into the spooky season.

Buy Now for £3.49

Primark Pumpkin Shaped Bathmat

Add a playful twist to your bathroom décor with this Halloween-themed bathmat, cleverly shaped like a pumpkin for a festive seasonal touch.

Buy Now for £10

Superdrug Halloween Cherry Vamp Bundle

This beauty bundle is packed with essentials for a bold and playful look. It includes MCoBeauty’s Dual-Ended Pro Eyeliner in black, a berry mauve Lip Varnish Liquid Lipstick, and the clever 4-in-1 Super Pen Liner. To complete the set, there are two pumpkin-shaped blending sponges from Superdrug, along with B. Gentle Micellar Water and B. Calm Soothing Day Cream – perfect for cleansing and caring for sensitive skin.

Buy Now for £29.70 (was £45)

Dunelm Cat 3D Mug

Add a little magic to your tea break with the Cat 3D Mug. With its playful sculpted shape and cosy charm, it’s the perfect companion for any budding witch or cat lover. Made from durable, dishwasher-safe stoneware, it’s as practical as it is enchanting – ideal for everything from morning brews to midnight potions.

Buy Now for £2.25 (was £4.50)

AliExpress 2/3/6M Halloween LED Lights String

The 2/3/6M Halloween LED Lights String from AliExpress features artificial maple leaf lanterns that emit a warm, festive glow. Available in multiple lengths, it’s battery-operated and perfect for adding a cosy, seasonal touch to your Halloween or autumn décor.

Buy Now for 76p

M&S Hanging Percy Pig™ Halloween Decoration

Add a playful twist to your Halloween décor with this adorable Percy Pig™ hanging decoration. Holding a ‘Trick or Treat’ pumpkin and finished with a handy fabric loop, it’s a cute and easy way to bring some seasonal charm to your space.

Buy Now for £4.20 (was £6)

Anthropologie Adelle Snake Taper Candle Holder

This striking taper candle holder features a hand-carved snake, designed to capture the texture of its scales and finished with a gleaming hand-painted sheen. Coiled upward in a dramatic pose, it makes a bold and stylish addition to any Halloween or gothic-inspired décor.

Buy Now for £32

Dunelm Spooktacular Halloween Washable Runner

Step into the Halloween spirit with the Spooktacular Washable Runner – designed to add festive flair to hallways, corridors, and walkways.

Decorated with playful Halloween characters, it blends seasonal charm with everyday practicality.

The anti-slip backing keeps it securely in place, while the washable surface makes it easy to maintain. Perfect for high-traffic areas, it’s a fun and functional way to elevate your spooky décor.

Buy Now for £9.80

Oliver Bonas House of Fun Pink Neon Sign

Let your space shine with personality thanks to the House of Fun Neon Sign. Set in a clear acrylic box with a mirrored back, the bright pink scripted text adds a bold pop of colour. It comes ready to plug in with an electric adaptor suitable for both UK and EU sockets.

Buy Now for £130

New Look Gold Tone Pack of 6 Halloween Stud and Hoop Earrings

Add a spooky touch to your outfit with this Halloween earring multipack. Featuring a mix of classic studs and festive designs like witches’ hats, bats, ghosts, and pumpkins, it’s the perfect way to embrace the season.

Buy Now for £5.99

Superdrug Smiffys Latex Stitched Scar Prosthetic

The Smiffys Latex Stitched Scar Prosthetic is a Halloween makeup accessory designed to create a dramatic and realistic stitched neck scar effect.

Made from flexible latex, it features a vivid red design that mimics torn and stitched skin, ideal for horror-themed costumes or theatrical looks.

The prosthetic comes with adhesive for easy application, allowing it to stay securely in place throughout your event. It’s a simple yet striking way to add a gruesome detail to your Halloween transformation.

Buy Now for £4.99

Anthropologie Mystic Confetti Icon Palo Santo & Saffron Glass Candle

Palo Santo & Saffron (Woody): A warm and spicy blend where rich saffron and cinnamon meet creamy Tonka bean and smoky birchwood, creating a bold, comforting scent with a mysterious edge.

Buy Now for £36

Argos Home Halloween Extra Large Skeleton Decoration

Make a statement this Halloween with the XL Skeleton – a life-size decoration with moveable joints for endless posing possibilities. Whether he's lurking in a wardrobe, lounging at the dinner table, or tucked up in bed, this creepy character is perfect for parties, pranks, and spooky doorway displays.

Buy Now for £35

AliExpress Realistic Human Skull and Skeleton Hands Halloween Decoration

Create a spooky scene this Halloween with a realistic skeleton lawn decoration from AliExpress. Featuring a detailed skull and two skeletal arms that appear to rise from the ground, it’s perfect for adding eerie charm to your garden or party setup. Made from durable plastic and easy to install, it’s a budget-friendly way to elevate your haunted house vibe.

Buy Now for £2.38

H&M Appliquéd Alice Band

This playful Alice band from H&M’s kids’ collection features satin padding, cute ear-shaped appliqués, and a sparkly sequined bow – perfect for parties, dressing up, or adding a fun touch to everyday outfits.

Buy Now for £2.99

M&S Carved Fleece Pumpkin Throw

Add a seasonal touch to your home with this soft, carved fleece throw. Featuring a cosy texture and charming pumpkin details, it’s perfect for autumn styling. Whether draped over a sofa or used for snuggling up on chilly evenings, this fluffy accent brings warmth and festive flair to any space.

Buy Now for £8.75 (was £12.50)

John Lewis Skulls Candy Bowl

This candy bowl is covered in a crowd of creepy skulls and skeletons, making it a perfect pick for serving treats with a spooky twist.

Buy Now for £20

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Looking for easy ways to stay warm this winter? Dunelm has a new heated blanket, and it’s not only super cosy, but also super stylish.

When you picture heated blankets, you may think of a grey or plaid print over your Nan’s knees at Christmas, but the Printed Fleece Woodland Electric Throw from Dunelm won’t dampen your decor.

Priced at £35, it has an adorable woodland print adorned with pine leaves, deers and mushrooms. It’s a great addition for turning your home into a festive winter wonderland, and customers insist you’ll stay snug as a bug in a rug too.

Printed Fleece Woodland Electric Throw

Add a touch of nature to your home with this beautifully designed heated throw, featuring a whimsical woodland print.

Crafted from ultra-soft fleece made entirely from recycled polyester, it’s a sustainable way to stay snug.

Machine washable and perfect for chilly nights, it blends comfort, style, and eco-conscious living.

Buy Now for £35

The soft fleece fabric feels so soft to the touch, and it’s an eco-friendly choice as it’s crafted from 100% recycled polyester.

Measuring 160cm by 130cm, it’s perfectly sized to cosy up with on chilly winter nights, whether you’re curled up on the sofa with a holiday film or adding an extra layer of warmth to your bed for a restful night’s sleep. It also has a timer built in, so even if you forget to switch it off, it’ll automatically shut off after four hours.

It’s also machine washable, so you don’t need to stress if you spill your hot chocolate or drop bit of your mince pie on it It’s designed to withstand the hustle and bustle of a festive household, so enjoy those treats in abundance!

Heated blankets are a cost-effective way to keep warm as they provide targeted heat directly to your body, reducing the need to heat your entire home. They typically heat up quickly too, and retain the heat well for hours of comfort.

‘This throw is a game changer,’ an anonymous customer said in their review. ‘It warms up in minutes and is so cosy. It also has a very attractive design. The only downside is that I never want to get off the sofa!’

‘The design is beautiful,’ Nicola said in her review. ‘It’s cosy, very large and lovely and soft – and fantastic value! The heat setting goes up to five but I only need it to be on one or two to be snug and warm. A terrific buy!’

‘Why didn’t I buy one of these years ago?’ Julie insisted in her feedback. ‘All my dreams come true. Fleece and added heat. Just tuck it round yourself so no hidden drafts can sneak in. Trouble is my grandaughter has decided she might like one. What can a nanna say?’

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