George Cox and Sons Ltd – Chris Cox (Managing Director), Matthew Edwards (Contracts Director), Mark Holroyd (Finance Director), John Walsh (Contracts Director) and Jovan Ristov (Operations Director) (Image: George Cox and Sons Ltd)

George Cox & Sons Ltd, a specialist civil engineering and highways contractor, delivers projects across the North West.

Founded in Farnworth in 1947, George Cox & Sons began when George Cox left his job as a street mason and started a flagging business using little more than a handcart to transport his tools and materials.

The company became George Cox & Sons in 1953 and has since grown into a leading North West civil engineering and highways contractor.

Still based in Farnworth and now run by the fourth generation of the Cox family, they have carried out recent work developing in cities and towns throughout the region.

Recent projects include developments on Stockport Interchange, Lancaster University’s Health Innovation Campus and the Leigh Cycleway in Wigan.

The family-run business has been recognised for its continued growth nearly eight decades after it was established.

Managing Director Chris Cox said the achievement reflected the efforts of the company’s workforce and its longstanding approach to customer service.

He said: “We’re extremely pleased to be recognised for this achievement, it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff that have got us into this position.

“We have been around 79 years and we’re a fourth generation family business and our head office is based in Bolton.

“We believe that this growth is a testament to the values we have always maintained.”

Mr Cox added that the company’s professional, reliable, and collaborative approach helps it stand out in a competitive market and encourages clients to return.

Clothing brand Represent were listed as one of the fastest growing in the North West (Image: Represent)

Joining George Cox & Sons on the list is Represent, the premium fashion brand founded in 2011 by brothers George and Mike Heaton.

Operating from Northgate Close in Horwich, Represent has grown from a local start-up into an internationally recognised clothing label.

The brand’s designs have been worn by celebrities including Justin Bieber and 21 Savage and has collaborated with major names such as Liam Gallagher and Metallica.

Represent now has around 150 stockists worldwide, including leading retailers Selfridges, Harrods, and Nordstrom, offering contemporary menswear inspired by street culture.

The recognition of both firms showcases the success of businesses from Bolton across very different industries, with one building on generations of engineering expertise and the other establishing itself as a major name in global fashion.

Michael O’Leary says Ryanair flights are being diverted due to ‘aggressive’ passengers who have had ‘copious amounts’ of booze while waiting for takeoff in the airport

Airports should stop serving alcohol to passengers before ‘11am or 12pm’ to prevent ‘misbehaviour’ on flights, according to Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary.

The CEO of the budget airline has called for restrictions on the amount of booze passengers can buy before boarding a plane, saying bars and airports are ‘passing the problem on to poor old dumb airlines’.

Speaking on The Travel Expert with Simon Calder podcast on Friday (July 24), Mr O’Leary also suggested policing the amount of alcohol holidaymakers can purchase in bars with similar rules used in duty free.

The 65-year-old Irishman said he would be happy to implement a two-drink limit on Ryanair flights as part of a ‘quid pro quo’ arrangement with airports to stop ‘aggressive, argumentative’ drunk passengers disrupting flights.

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When asked if airlines should introduce a two drink limit, he replied: “No problem with it. I mean very few passengers on board our aircraft would buy more than two drinks anyway, but if the quid pro quo was the airline’s limited to two drinks? Done. In a heartbeat.

“The real issue we have to recognise is an industry problem of misbehaviour, and the misbehaviour is getting worse. Particularly due periods of flight delays, you have people sitting in airports consuming copious amounts of alcohol.”

Mr O’Leary said stopping drunks boarding is difficult for Ryanair staff. He continued: “It is very hard to identify unless they are staggeringly drunk, unless they can’t stand up straight.

“Most people, even drunks, can pass through, show your passport and get onboard. And you have a combination, some cases, of alcohol and drugs, and they get aggressive and argumentative. In the old days, if you drank too much, you just fell asleep on board a plane.”

He then took aim at airport policies for serving customer booze from early in the morning. Mr O’Leary added: “It continues to be a mystery to me why pubs at airports are allowed to open at 6am in the morning, serving alcohol. Why do you not serve tea and coffees until 11 o’clock or 12 o’clock in the afternoon? “

He also suggested to The Telegraph podcast that another measure could work: “But the critical thing here is we limit the amount of people, duty-free, can buy — [we] say, show your boarding pass.

“Why don’t we do the same but with alcoholic drinks at bars? [Bars] pass the problem on to the airline. The airports don’t care. They just passed the problem on to the airlines, and the poor old dumb airlines are diverting planes.

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“Like it causes real upset to fellow passengers onboard. When you’ve aggressive people, they’re shouting and screaming and drunk and disrupting our crews.

“Our crews shouldn’t have to work in that environment. And our fellow passengers deserve the respect that airports will not be shovelling alcohol into these people, particularly during flight delays, copious amounts of alcohol, so that they can misbehave.”

Mr O’Leary’s appearance on the podcast comes days after his company announced pre-tax profits fell by nearly a third as oil prices surged thanks to the Iran War. When pressed on the news, he remained upbeat about the airline’s future, pointing out passenger numbers were rising.

The development would be opposite a car park for Longsight Park, which is off Longsight Lane.

The new proposal is being described by some as a compromise, due to it reducing the scale of development from previous proposals.

It could see more than half of the land also made available for community use.

The application seeks Permission in Principle for up to nine homes on land, where a previous proposal for 20 houses was dismissed on appeal earlier this year.

The plans off Longsight Lane (Image: Planning Documents)

The latest application covers a smaller area of the site and is now open for consultation.

Jane Wilcock, a resident, said: “I don’t think building on any green site is very good, but there’s been a political change over the last couple of years.

“I think nine houses on a field that we don’t access, which fronts up onto Longsight Lane, given that we are then allowed community access, is the best that could happen.

“Obviously animals can get over into the park and onto the site of biological importance, so it is probably about as good as we can get.”

Although remaining land could potentially be being transferred for community benefit, details of how that would happen have not yet been agreed.

The planning statement says the reduced site avoids surrounding woodland, veteran trees, and the Site of Biological Importance identified during the previous appeal.

Permission in Principle would establish whether the site is suitable for housing in principle, with technical details such as access, ecology, and landscaping considered later if approved.

(Image: Jane Wilcock)

Dr Wilcock added: “I think it’s very difficult to defend that nine houses on that land in the current political climate, of building on green belts, and protected open land throughout Bolton.

“Provided he comes true with his promise on allowing that land to be gifted to the council, however they do it, then I think that’s probably the best of the bad job.”

Applicant Robin Day said the revised proposal followed discussions with residents after an agreement with a developer ended.

He said: “We thought a very good compromise was to develop the front field. Not all of it, but some of it.

A field on the land which could be built on (Image: NQ)

“And then give the rest of the land back to the community.

“We’ve had four years of this, and we just want to bring it to an end. It seems the compromise that’s been reached is a happy one.”

Mr Day said public footpaths would not be affected and that the remaining land could be used by the community if the plans proceed.

One of the Harwood and Bradshaw councillors, Les Webb, has objected to the application.

(Image: Bolton Council)

Cllr Webb said: “The planning in principle, in my opinion, should be refused on the basis that the Planning Inspector clearly stated why this site was unsuitable before.

“There is still discussion about the Site of Biological Importance, about the runoff, about the movement of animals, about the traffic.

“All of those objections and things that were upheld by the Planning Inspectorate still will remain in place.”

Bolton Council will decide the application after the consultation period ends.

The non-reduced items were then bought from the store.

The force said the activity took place in the Holland & Barrett store in McArthurGlen York Designer Outlet in Fulford at 5.25pm on Friday, June 26.

North Yorkshire Police has issued images of two people the force said it would like to speak to saying they may have information which could support its investigation.

A force spokesperson said: “If you can help our appeal, please email peter.henderson@northyorkshire.police.uk.

“Or call 101 and ask for PC1668 Henderson.

“If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

“Please quote reference 12260120596 when passing on information.”

SuperBike Factory was founded in 2010 and, over 16 years, developed into “Europe’s largest buyer, seller, and financier of motorbikes”.

The company operated an online stock list, offered delivery nationwide, and had relationships with more than 500 UK dealers.

In 2018, the business launched an online accessory store, before diversifying its range even further in 2020 with electric motorbikes.

The company has continued to expand in recent years with the opening of new sites in:

• Donington Park
• Bradford (West Yorkshire) – rebranded showroom after Ritebike acquisition
• Bristol
• Milton Keynes
• Crawley

SuperBike Factory closes after collapsing into administration

SuperBike Factory has now ceased trading after 16 years, having collapsed into administration.

In a statement on its website, the company said: “On 20 July 2026, Michael Lennon, James Saunders and Robert Halliday of KR8 Advisory Ltd were appointed as Joint Administrators of Superbike Factory Group Limited and Superbike Factory Limited (“the Companies”) pursuant to the provisions of the Insolvency Act 1986.

“The Companies have ceased to trade with immediate effect.

“All enquiries regarding the Companies or the Administration, including those from customers, should be directed by email to SBF@kr8.co.uk.

“The affairs, business and property of the Companies are being managed by the Joint Administrators, who act as agents of the Companies and without personal liability.”

Other UK companies that have closed or entered administration/liquidation in 2026

It has been a tough year for the UK high street, with several other retailers entering administration or liquidation and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street brands LK Bennett, Claire’s, and Quiz have been forced to close all their remaining stores after falling into administration.

UK fashion retailer Leading Labels is also set to close its remaining 15 stores after falling into liquidation.

TG Jones will be closing 150 stores across the UK as part of a “restructuring” plan approved by the High Court on Wednesday (July 1).

The British Heart Foundation has also revealed plans to close around 150 charity shops over the coming years.

Other retailers have been forced to close stores this year, including:

Several UK travel companies have also ceased trading or entered administration in 2026:

Luxury UK holiday company Salamander Voyages shut down back in April after entering administration.

Meanwhile, four UK airlines have fallen into administration or liquidation:

UK delivery company Yodel is set to be phased out over the coming months after being acquired by InPost.

It’s also been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It hasn’t all been bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.

Plus-size clothing brand Evans also returned to the UK high street recently after closing all its stores and concessions in December 2020.

Bodycare is also set to return to the UK high street in 2026 after closing all its stores last year, having fallen into administration.

Which company/store closure in 2026 has affected you the most? Let us know in the comments below.

Chris Anne Affleck, the mother of Ben and Casey Affleck, has died at the age of 83 from pancreatic cancer.

Her family revealed the sad news Thursday following her passing on June 2, according to a Legacy obituary. 

The matriarch of the family is survived by sons Ben, 53, and Casey, 50; and five grandkids: Indiana, 22, Violet, 20, Atticus, 18, Fin, 17, and Sam, 14, who were described as ‘the animating force of her last two decades.’

According to her obit, she had been told by doctors she had six months to live last December, and her final wish was to see her grandson’s high school graduation.

She attended the ceremony this past May 31, and died while sleeping just two days later.

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Ben Affleck and Casey Affleck for further comment on the story. 

The actor and his mother were pictured at an Academy Awards party in 1998 

Chris Anne had been born in December of 1942 in New York City. She graduated from Harvard University and was a public school teacher for 35 years prior to her retirement in 2008.

Ben, speaking with The Hollywood Reporter in 2012 about his mother, said, ‘My mother taught public school, went to Harvard and then got her master’s there and taught fifth and sixth grade in a public school.’

Chris Anne developed a keen sense of social consciousness early in life, as ‘she made the most of an elite education while remaining skeptical of the tightly cloistered world it represented’ while attending the school Nightingale-Bamford, according to her obit.

In one instance, a teacher yelled at her for condemning Jim Crow since she hadn’t spoken to the ‘other side,’ according to her obit.

She subsequently called a Woolworth’s store to inquire if they had turned down business from Black people. It marked her essence of being ‘willing to acknowledge that she might be wrong and never letting that uncertainty be an excuse for inaction,’ her obit stated.

She was a staunch advocate for civil rights, and had traveled to the South in the 1960s during a time of social change, according to her obituary.

Chris Anne ‘taught literacy classes in Mississippi during Freedom Summer, marched against the Vietnam War, and reveled in 1960s counterculture,’ her obituary stated.

She carried these values into the classroom, according to the obit, as ‘every student, whether just arrived from Haiti or Cambridge upper crust, was a cherished citizen of her classroom republic, equal to each other and to herself.’

Chris Anne was seen with her son Ben and grandson Samuel in April of 2025 

Chris Anne, Ben and Samuel seen in Brentwood, California in June of 2015 

Casey Affleck and Chris Anne seen at a movie premiere in April of 2000

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Chris Anne and ex-husband Timothy Affleck welcomed Ben in 1972 and Casey in 1975. In the mid-1970s, they moved to Massachusetts, as Chris Anne taught there. They got divorced when Ben was 12-years-old, and Timothy would move to California afterwards.

Casey Affleck, speaking to Boston Magazine in 2006, credited his mother for keeping the household steady during the turbulent time.

‘She always made us go on family vacations,’ Casey said. ‘When you’re a kid, you just want to stay home and hang out with your friends. You don’t want to go to your grandparents’ house.

‘But tradition meant a lot to her. She just insisted. We had a lot of fights about that. But now I love it and those are some of my favorite memories.’

She encouraged her son Ben’s show business aspirations early on, introducing him to casting director Patty Collins, who had been her roommate at Harvard when she attended college, according to THR. Collins assisted a young Ben with auditions for TV films and commercials.

Ben, in a 2007 interview with Parade, opened up about his early days in front of the camera with his mother’s support.

‘I got into acting as a young child on account of a sort of arbitrary thing,’ he said at the time. ‘A friend of my mom’s was a casting director so, really as kind of a lark.

‘I had a couple of acting jobs that had just enough exposure to give me the option to continue if I wanted to. I followed through with it.’

Chris Anne seen with Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez in November of 2002 

The mother and son were seen in LA in February of 2018 in Brentwood, California 

Chris Anne was very close with Ben’s ex-wife Jennifer Garner, as they were pictured in 2009 with Violet and Fin 

Chris Anne was behind Ben throughout his show business career, and went to the Academy Awards with him and Matt Damon in 1998, when they won the Oscars for Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.

Ben recalled to Vanity Fair in April of 2023: ‘We were sitting next to our moms and we won, and we kind of hugged our moms. I remember how everyone had made such a big thing out of it as if this was such a novelty.

‘I remember thinking, being insecure, like, “Why? Why is it weird that we’re bringing our moms?” Who else do you think we would bring?’

The obit noted that while ‘Chris was suitably proud of her descendants’ achievements … she was delighted when they questioned, defied, or cleverly engaged authority.’ 

Chris Anne was very close with Ben’s ex-wife Jennifer Garner, and they remained tightknit following her son’s split from the actress. 

They had been spotted numerous times on outings in the years after the couple’s split.

She had also been to Ben’s 2022 nuptials to Jennifer Lopez, braving a health scare the day before with a leg injury before returning to see them exchange vows. 

She retired from teaching in 2008 but stayed active tending to social causes she held dear. They included campaigning for former President Barack Obama, putting together the Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine, and being a board member for the Sustainable Cape project, her obit stated. 

The latest of the community council’s colourful signs has been put in place at Clydeford Road

Residents and visitors to Cambuslang are now being greeted by a colourful new welcome sign as the latest installation in the community council’s murals project is put in place.

The bright new focal point now in place at the Clydeford Road roundabout is described as “a fantastic addition to our town” by volunteers, and was created and put in place with support from local businesses, funders and South Lanarkshire Council.

It now joins existing signs already in place at the town’s railway station, sunflower garden, Cambuslang Road bridge and Main Street.

The latest project was led by community council member Michelle Farmer, who said: “We’re absolutely delighted to see our welcome sign erected at Clydeford Road, giving everyone a warm welcome as they arrive in Cambuslang.

“It’s been a real community team effort and we’d like to say a huge thank you to all our partners – Chris Hannah of Maguires who designed the sign, Jonathan House at CG Print Services who produced it, and the land services team at South Lanarkshire Council who erected the sign.

“We are also very grateful to the National Lottery community fund Scotland and Rail 74 community rail partnership for their support in co-funding the Cambuslang murals project.”

Maguires creative director Chris has worked with the community council for the past five years on the previous four murals, and said; “Growing up in Cambuslang, seeing the roundabout on Clydeford Road was a sign that I was almost home.

“I’m really proud to have been able to help the fantastic team of inspiring volunteers at Cambuslang community council to create an actual sign welcoming everyone visiting the town.”

The sign was produced by Rutherglen-based CG Print Services, with Jonathan saying: “It was an honour to support my home town with the signage, building on community council partnership that started with the welcome sign at Cambuslang Station – I feel it really helps brighten up our community.”

Colin Reid, manager of South Lanarkshire’s land services team who put the landmark new addition to the town in place at Clydeford Road, agreed: “We’re pleased to have supported this great project; the council always wants to work with local communities and groups where we can.”

John Bachtler, who chairs Cambuslang community council, said: “Over the past 10 years, we have focused on making improvements to the quality of life in our town with the new streetscape, Cambuslang in Bloom, the banking hub, Bridge Street car park and the award of annual community activity grants.

“The Cambuslang murals project was created as part of this programme to brighten up the town for residents and visitors alike and many thanks are due community council members for their hard work – with special credit to Michelle whose leadership, characteristic drive and perseverance made the project happen.”

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Gail Mattson had dreamed of going on safari but the 79-year-old’s wish come true ended in tragedy when the truck she was travelling in was attacked by an “aggressive” bull elephant

It was the holiday of a lifetime for gran Gail Mattson as she embarked on a once in a lifetime safari to see the majestic animals she had spent her life wanting to visit.

The 79-year-old from Minnesota had travelled to Zambia to see awe-inspiring elephants, lions and other wildlife. Gail had gone on the incredible trip with a friend and had admitted to loved ones it would be the last big overseas trip she felt she could manage.

She had travelled extensively and loved to see the world, having already visited both Asia and Europe in the past.

But as Gail approached her 80th birthday, with her family back home planning a huge party and celebration for the event, she made the difficult decision that this would be her last trip.

Gail had been described as a “big traveller” by her close friends John Longabaugh and Brenda Biggs, who added that a safari in Africa had “always been on her bucket list”.

On March 30, 2024, Gail embarked on a game drive to see some of the incredible animals which call Zambia home in real life.

The caring church volunteer who loved to play bridge could never have imagined the excursion of a lifetime would end in tragedy.

It was while the group was on the safari that a bull elephant charged at the truck she was travelling in. It was an unexpected attack with the elephant being described as “aggressive”.

Six people were travelling in the truck and four of those on board had to be treated for minor injuries while a fifth was treated in hospital in South Africa. However, Gail suffered harrowing injuries and did not survive the attack, which saw the bull elephant flip the truck.

In a chilling recording of the tragedy, someone can be heard saying “oh my goodness,” and “it’s coming fast”. It is thought the driver stopped the vehicle in a bid to halt the elephant in its track but the bull hooked its horns into the truck and rolled it several times.

CEO of the safari company running the trip, Keith Vincent, explained the terrain made it impossible for the vehicle to get away quickly enough to save Gail.

He explained: “Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough.” id.

In a heartbreaking Facebook post after her mother’s death, Gail’s daughter Rona Wells wrote: “Sadly she lost her life in a tragic accident while on her dream adventure.”

Her son, Blake Vetter, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis “this is more than about a little old lady that got killed by an elephant. She lived an extraordinary life” while raising two children by herself.

Gail also loved to golf and had worked as a mortgage company loan officer before taking early retirement at 55. She and her son were planning a sky dive when she returned from her dream trip.

Chace Crawford and Kelsey Merritt have called it quits on their romance. 

The Gossip Girl heartthrob, 41, and the Victoria’s Secret model, 29, have parted ways after more than a year of dating, according to TMZ.

Their split was amicable and they remain friends, sources told the outlet. 

The duo, who were last seen in April, were first romantically linked in November 2024 but did not make things Instagram official until July 2025. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Crawford and Merritt’s representatives for comment. 

Last year, Crawford couldn’t keep his lips off the model as they were seen packing on the PDA while on vacation in Sardinia, Italy, aboard a luxury yacht.

The two fueled dating rumors in 2024 after following each other on Instagram and posting similar pictures to their respective Instagram accounts from St Barts.

Merritt had previously been linked to James Marsden, Jared Leto and Olympic swimmer Conor Dwyer.

In June 2024, Crawford revealed he was single during an episode of Alex Cooper’s podcast Call Her Daddy.

Although he tends to keep his relationships out of the spotlight, he admitted to the host that his love life was currently a ‘dumpster fire.’

His last public relationship had been with actress Rebecca Rittenhouse from whom he split in 2018 after three years of dating. In September 2023, his ex got engaged to Kyle Robiskie.

The performer also noted that he joined the highly exclusive celebrity dating app Raya over the summer.

Before entering his relationship with Merritt, he acknowledged that, despite his status as a Hollywood heartthrob, online dating had been going ‘terribly.’

When asked if he had ever hooked up with one of his Gossip Girl co-stars, the actor, best known for playing Nate Archibald on The CW’s hit teen drama, confessed he had.

Their split was amicable and they remain friends, sources told the outlet. The now exes are seen together in 2025 at the US Open in New York 

The duo, who were first romantically linked in November 2024, were last publicly seen at the Falconeri Dinner at Getty House on April 23, 2026 (pictured)

‘I would say those things are inevitable,’ Crawford coyly confirmed. 

‘When you’re in your 20s… the thing is you’re on these things—people probably think it’s these sexy scenes or whatever, that’s like the worst part of it, with 60 people watching.’

‘It’s the downtime. You’re doing this show, you’re on set for like 12-14 hours a day and usually there’s some pretty interesting people from all walks of life.’

He seemed to imply that his real-life hookup was not with one of the show’s main, original cast members, like Blake Lively, Leighton Meester or Taylor Momsen.

‘There’s a lot of actors and people coming onto the show, over the years,’ he added. 

‘And I was fortunate enough to have in the city a really good friend group. And everyone else has their little friend group.’

‘So you meet people in that wider circle, it’s not just that tiny little circle. There’s a lot of people involved. But again, it was like our college experience.’

The actor acknowledged he was ‘absolutely’ aware of the other workplace romances and relationships between his co-stars at the time.

Merritt, who became the first Filipino woman to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2018, has previously been linked to Jared Leto and Olympian swimmer Conor Dwyer

Crawford’s last public relationship prior to Merritt was with actress Rebecca Rittenhouse from whom he split from in 2018 after three years of dating. They are seen in 2015

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Crawford (seated in the car) is best known for playing wealthy Manhattan heartthrob Nate Archibald in the hit teen drama series Gossip Girl

Some of the off-screen romances included Lively and Penn Badgley, Ed Westwick and Jessica Szohr as well as Leighton and Sebastian Stan – all of whom went on to marry other people.

Crawford noted, for him, if he connects ‘right away’ with someone’s ‘sense of humor’ on set that it can be dangerous.

‘Like if you have a rapport and can kind of banter, and give each other s**t. I’m like, “Oh, I gotta watch out,”‘ he confessed.

Over the years, Crawford has been romantically linked to Carrie Underwood, Rachelle Goulding and Audrina Patridge. 

Some ‘picky bits’ sides and dips will boost your healthy food intake

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Tucking into “picky bits” on a summer picnic can count towards people’s five-a-day, health experts have said. Favourites such as houmous, falafel and tzatziki can all help people hit the daily health target, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Recommendations from the World Health Organisation (WHO) are for people to eat at least 400g of fruit and vegetables every day to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers. Picky bits containing foods such as chickpeas, beans and tomatoes can often be overlooked but do count, the BHF said.

For example, around four sundried tomatoes make up one portion of the five‑a‑day target and can be easily added to salads, pastas and couscous. Meanwhile, around three heaped tablespoons of houmous count as one of the five-a-day because it is made from chickpeas.

People are urged to remember that beans and chickpeas can only count once towards the target because they do not provide the same range of vitamins and minerals as fruit and vegetables. But pairing houmous with 80g per person of sliced vegetables such as carrots, cucumber or radish, adds up to another portion.

Elsewhere, tzatziki is made with cucumber and also counts towards one portion, and is boosted more if served alongside cucumber sticks, pepper strips or carrot batons for dipping. A snack pot with around three heaped tablespoons of beans, such as edamame, cannellini or butter beans, can also count towards the five-a-day, though beans do only count once.

Falafel is usually made from chickpeas and can also count towards the one portion of beans and pulses, while baking rather than frying falafel makes it even healthier. The BHF said homemade salsa including things like tomatoes, peppers, onions, avocado and sweetcorn also counts towards the five-a-day target.

People are urged to check the labels of shop-bought salsa, however, which can be lower in vegetables while being high in salt or sugar. Elsewhere, around 30 olives make up a portion of fruit and vegetables but can be salty, the BHF says.

People are advised to eat fewer than 30 in a sitting but pair them with other fresh vegetables to make up one portion. Dell Stanford, senior dietitian at the BHF, said: “Aiming to eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day can help to support heart health, but we know many people find it difficult to achieve.

“Summer picnics are a good reminder that your five-a-day can include more than the obvious choices, with beans, pulses and vegetable dips all helping you get closer to the daily target. In fact, a spread of picky bits can be a simple way to add extra fruit and vegetables to your day, especially when it includes options like houmous, falafel, salsa, cucumber sticks or other veg-based dips.

“Filling a picnic basket with these options is a fun, sociable way to help look after your heart.”