SHOPPERS have been left baffled by a strange new addition to Aldi’s Christmas range – that would never normally be seen at Christmas.

The budget supermarket revealed the new range earlier this month, with customers calling the strange new item “cursed”.

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The hollow chocolate eggs, on sale for £1.99, seem more Easter-appropriate than Christmassy.

Riffing on the cross-seasonal concept, Aldi has playfully named them “Chreaster Eggs”.

The product, described as the “perfect stocking filler”, is available in red “Garry the Gingerbread Man” and blue “Parker the Penguin” versions.

Shoppers quickly rushed to social media to share their thoughts.

One celebrated the addition, saying on X: “I’ll take them all thank you!”

Another joked: “I love Aldi. Just when you think they can’t do better.”

They added: “This is so cursed I actually love it.”

However, others were more disturbed by the product, with one saying: “Eggs! Just no, Aldi. We all know that Christmas chocolate is either sphere, triangular, circular or hexagon shaped!”

Another cynic wrote: “I saw these in my Aldi on Saturday and I was so confused.”

Others have accused Aldi of not paying due regard to Christmas as a religious festival.

One said: “May as well cut the Christmas story short and ‘roll the stone away’ immediately with a Chreaster Egg, no point in prolonging it all.”

To this, Aldi replied: “We could turn the entire year into one big festive event.”

While others have jokingly suggested extending the chocolate eggs to Halloween too, saying: “Where are the Chreasterween eggs?”

Indulging in the online discussion, Aldi replied that its “final destination” was “Easumalloweemas eggs”.

Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “At Aldi we’re always looking for fun and creative ways to enhance our Christmas range.

“The ‘Chreaster egg’ trend has really taken off because it blends Easter’s most popular treat, the Easter Egg, with the beloved season of Christmas.

“Whether it’s a stocking filler or a conversation starter, we hope shoppers love our charming Dairyfine Hollow Character Eggs.”

How to save money on chocolate

WE all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don’t have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…

Go own brand – if you’re not too fussed about flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you’ll save by going for the supermarket’s own brand bars.

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Shop around – if you’ve spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.

Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.

Look out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they’ve been reduced.

They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best-before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.

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Buy bigger bars – most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.

So if you’ve got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.

FOR three months the ­people of Reeves Street have been living a nightmare – in fear of next week’s Halloween Budget.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is this weekend making final preparations for her first Autumn Statement.

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And as seven out of ten ­people say they feel worried about Wednesday’s Budget, we visited a street near Walsall that shares its name with ­Labour’s key player.

Bloxwich — one of the ­poorest districts in the West Midlands — has suffered hard times as its traditional ­engineering firms and foundries closed.

Reeves Street boasts 15 houses, a garage, a building firm, two residential care homes, a cab rank, a closed-down Indian restaurant and a local boozer.

Dave Sargent, 59, took over the street’s pub, The Hatherton Arms, three years ago and turned it into a popular ­community hub.

But he believes soaring energy costs, alcohol duties, income tax and business rate rises may finally kill off his business.

‘We’re being screwed’

Landlord Dave’s message to Rachel Reeves is: “Stop killing the pub trade — we’re under enough pressure as it is.

“It seems they want to close every little pub down. They are doing nothing for us — we’re being screwed to the ground.”

The married father-of-four, who packs in punters with karaoke, bingo and live DJ nights, says his energy costs alone are now £1,000 a month.

He also fears rises in alcohol duty will force him to increase his prices beyond the reach of punters, who have already been taxed to the hilt on their income.

Dave says: “You’ve got the cost of fuel and the tax on beers. The cost of electricity and gas is phenomenal.

“I’m paying £1,000 a month here just for electricity and we have to scrimp and scrape to make that £1,000.

“Trying to ban smoking in the pub garden was a ridiculous idea — thank goodness it looks like that is now being delayed or scrapped. It’s bad enough for landlords as it is. It’s bleak for us because we are working on a small ­margin, and if it gets to a stage when what I take at the till is below what is acceptable for the hours I’m putting in, I will have to finish.”

I never expected Labour to be as hard on everyone as they have been

Dave Sargent

On July 4, Labour’s Valerie Vaz won the Walsall and Bloxwich seat, where the Tory vote was split by Reform and an independent, Aftab Nawaz.

Dave says: “I’ve never voted for Labour and I didn’t vote at all this year because I thought they were all as bad as each other.

“But I never expected Labour to be as hard on everyone as they have been.

“It’s promises, promises — and I think it’s going to get worse over the next four years. It’s a nightmare.”

Pensioners Stephen and Julie Barnett, who own their terraced house on Reeves Street, are Tory voters who ignored the last election after becoming disillusioned with the Conservatives.

They are horrified by ­Labour’s first three months in power and fear their £300 Winter Fuel Allowance will be axed because their income takes them over the Pension Credit threshold.

If I had Rachel Reeves here now, I’d say get on to the energy suppliers and start taxing them heavily and subsidising us

Retired mechanic Stephen Barnett

They also worry that the £1,200-a-year tax bill on their combined ­public and private pensions will increase because earnings thresholds are being frozen, possibly past 2028, and the Triple Lock will push them into a higher tax band,

Ex-school worker Julie, 66, says: “I suppose they call us wealthy pensioners, but we’re not really.”

Retired mechanic Stephen, 68, says: “If I had Rachel Reeves here now, I’d say get on to the energy suppliers and start taxing them heavily and subsidising us. I left school at 15 and have worked all my life. I used to do 44 hours a week. You would think that after all those years of paying into the system, they would leave you alone. But they don’t. They still want their pound of flesh. Starmer ain’t a politician — he’s a policeman.”

Jamie Harper and wife Sue run a thriving family building firm, Alvaston Loft Conversions, from a unit in Reeves Street.

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He wants the Chancellor to stay away from hikes in income tax, VAT, company tax and National Insurance because companies and their workers just cannot afford to pay more.

Jamie, 59, who employs 15 highly skilled staff, fears Angela Rayner’s workers’ rights package will take control away from business leaders.

He continues: “It is the tax that worries me — everyone seems to be working just to pay the tax man.

“Labour always increase tax and spending — that’s what they’re about — and it looks like they are going to increase them again next week.

‘We can’t go on’

“We can’t afford it. We have only just recovered from Covid. There are all sorts of problems in the world and we can’t hope to pay for them all.”

Jamie adds: “You have got to look after your own country’s interests first.”

Taxi driver Mohammed Choudhury, 53, who lives on Reeves Street, said taxes are already so high that he has to drive his minicab from early morning until late at night.

People who work pay too much tax and there are others on benefits who get too much

Care worker Tammy Field

The dad-of-five says: “Business is not good. It’s gone down in the past few years and we’re ­paying too much in tax.

“Sometimes I can do just one job an hour and that will be a £5 fare, but after tax and ­petrol costs, I’ll maybe make £2.60. It is not enough.

“I want to tell Rachel Reeves to cut taxes — we can’t go on like this.”

Care worker Tammy Field, 37, struggles to cover the cost of feeding her four children, aged 12 to 20.

She says: “People who work pay too much tax and there are others on benefits who get too much.

“It’s hard just paying for food in the shops and gas and ­electricity.

“My eldest daughter’s going to have a baby, so we’re going to have another mouth to feed. I’m also worried about my nan and grandad. They’re going to lose their Winter Fuel Payments.

“Labour should be looking after ordinary people like us, not the ones who have all the money.”

• Additional reporting: Cyril Dixon

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AN extra 60,000 carers will be able to claim government cash after changes expected at next week’s Budget.

Rachel Reeves is set to raise the limit people can earn before being ineligible for the carers allowance from £151 a week to £181.

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The £30 uplift will be the largest increase in the threshold since the benefit was introduced in 1976.

It is the equivalent of 16 hours a week for people on the living wage.

Carers Allowance is an £81.90 weekly bung for people looking after a severely disabled child or adult.

The current earnings cap of £151 a week after income, national insurance and expenses has been criticised as far too low.

It has seen many selfless carers unknowingly bust the limit and later told to repay large sums of their benefits.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall had launched a review of the overpayments scandal.

Ms Reeves will say the raised earnings cap will reduce the likelihood of carers earning over the maximum.

Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “We found 4 in 10 unpaid carers were pushed out of work because of problems with the earnings limit, plunging many into poverty.

“This new measure will help many more unpaid carers up and down the country to stay in paid work, putting much needed finances into families’ pockets.”

It comes as households on carer’s allowance continue to face substantial repayment demands after exceeding a critical weekly earnings limit.

Figures in August revealed that over 134,500 unpaid carers are collectively repaying £251million in benefit overpayments.

The Sun has previously highlighted cases where some individuals were required to repay up to £20,000 after unknowingly breaching carer’s allowance rules.

In an effort to reform the system and prevent more people from being caught out, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has initiated an independent review on the matter.

In response to the overwhelming number of repayment demands issued to claimants, the DWP’s independent review, in collaboration with the former chief executive of Disability Rights UK, aims to investigate the causes and mechanisms behind the overpayments.

It will then recommend “operational changes” to minimise the risk of future overpayments and outline how the DWP can best support those affected by overpayment issues.

FEELING ravenous? Then tuck in to a money-saving bottomless meal deal.

For breakfast, lunch and dinner, find an all-you-can eat offer.

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But choose wisely. Many apply a 90-minute limit, and you need to be realistic about how much you want to eat.

Here’s our pick of the deals that give you more for your money.

SLICE THE PRICE: Pizza Hut’s buffet lunches will save you a crust.

Weekday buffets start at just £10.99 for adults and £7.99 for kids, with unlimited salad.

You can currently get the deal for £10 with the code 10BUFFET. On weekends and bank holidays, the unlimited deal is £15.99 for adults and from £7.99 for kids.

FLAT RATE: Love pancakes? Head to Bill’s between 3pm and 5pm each day to eat as many as you like in 90 minutes for £9.50.

For an extra sweetener, mark your diary for November 8 when the buttermilk beauties are £5 all day, with two flavours to choose from — chocolate and ice cream or fresh fruit with syrup.

SALAD DAYS: At Harvester you can pile your plate from the unlimited salad bar.

Just buy a dish worth at least £6.99 to get your pick from the pasta salad, coleslaw, sweetcorn and lettuce, as well as dressings and toppings.

It’s a great way to enjoy an extra treat without feeling too full.

BREKKIE BARGAINS: It isn’t just about the roasts at Toby Carvey. Head there for breakfast — you can tuck into an all-you-can-eat feast for £6.99 or £7.49 at weekends.

Just pick up the items you want from the buffet.

There are vegetarian and kids’ options too, all served until 11am.

WING IT: Sign up to the TGI Fridays rewards app to be able to get an endless supply of chicken wings — or a vegetarian version.

The offer is available all week and you can have your plate refilled as many times as you like during a 90-minute dine-in for £15.

• All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.

Deal of day

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MAKE the perfect brew with the rose Cuisinart multi-temp kettle, down from £100 to £35 at Cuisinart.co.uk.

SAVE: £65

Cheap treat

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SNUGGLE in the Autumn Friends duvet set from Dunelm, down from £12 to £8.40 for a double

SAVE: £3.60

Top swap

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SIT back on this plush velvet Charlotte chair, which is £139.50 from Matalan.

Or rest easy on the Homcom tufted wingback option, £81.99 at Robert Dyas.

SAVE: £57.51

Shop & save

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BUILD big with the Lego Classic medium brick box, featuring 484 pieces. It’s £18.75 down from £25 at Sainsbury’s.

SAVE: £6.25

Hot right now

GET an extra 20 per cent off book box sets at The Works. The offer takes a box of five Worst Witch books down from £12 to £9.60.

PLAY NOW TO WIN £200

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JOIN thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we’re giving away £100 to 250 lucky readers – whether you’re saving up or just in need of some extra cash, The Sun could have you covered.

Every Sun Savers code entered equals one Raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you’ll earn and the more chance you will have of winning!

THE UK’s biggest water company has been thrown a lifeline to stop it running out of cash by Christmas.

Troubled Thames Water yesterday said it had secured a loan of up to £3billion.

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The new debt will give it the necessary breathing space to continue talks with other investors about injecting fresh cash into the business.

Chris Weston, the firm’s chief executive, said it was the “best option”.

If Thames Water — which supplies 16million households — does not find a long-term answer and runs out of cash, it will be transferred into temporary Government ownership.

Regulator Ofwat said safeguards are in place to protect water supplies.

Thames — which will be in almost £18billion of debt by the end of March — has asked existing creditors to put in £1.5billion to extend its resources to next October.

A further £1.5billion in loans can be accessed if it succeeds in its appeal against regulator Ofwat on how much it can put up bills.

Ofwat said in July the supplier could only raise bills by 22 per cent, but the firm wants a 53 per cent rise.

Castle Water, co-founded by Tory treasurer Graham Edwards, is involved in investment talks.

Infrastructure investor Brookfield, private equity giant Carlyle and Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, who controls Northumbrian Water, are also weighing it up.

Stuff bought

CASUAL clothing brand White Stuff has been bought by the South African owner of Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight.

White Stuff, which has 113 shops and 46 concessions in UK department stores, has gone to TFG London, part of Johannesburg-listed THE Foschin Group.

Good week

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ELON Musk after his fortune rose by £20billion in one day when the share price of TESLA jumped on bold sales forecasts.

Bad week

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OLA Kallenius, boss of Mercedes-Benz, which revealed that profits had slumped by over half.

A NEW find at Home Bargains has parents across the UK buzzing with excitement as it’s scanning for only £30.

Savvy mum Rachael Anfield Whyte shared her discovery of the Dreamer Cosmetic Trolley, dubbing it the “perfect gift for little girls” this Christmas.

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The eye-catching cosmetic trolley, priced at just £30, is a dream come true for kids who love all things glam.

Rachael, whose six-year-old daughter has a passion for makeup and a love of pink, couldn’t resist the sparkling trolley.

Sharing her bargain find on popular Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK, se wrote: “My little girl who’s six is obsessed with her big sister’s makeup, and she’s also pink mad.

“Spotted this in Home Bargains – so cute!

“It’s £30, which I thought was a bargain when most online are tiny for the same price!”

Rachael even added a photo of the trolley’s contents, highlighting the range of items that make it a fully-equipped beauty kit for aspiring young makeup artists.

The Dreamer Cosmetic Trolley is packed with everything needed for a glam makeover on the go, including a glitter eyeshadow palette, lip glosses, a nail polish set, and even fun accessories like nail stickers and body gemstones.

Its spacious compartments leave room for additional products, so little ones can grow their collection over time.

Designed for playdates, parties, or just a bit of dress-up fun at home, the trolley has built-in features like a pull-up handle and rolling wheels, ensuring kids can transport their beauty kit wherever they go.

The design includes a built-in mirror and foldable compartments, adding a grown-up feel to this pint-sized beauty salon on wheels.

As the holiday season approaches, Rachael’s recommendation could be a game-changer for those searching for an affordable yet exciting gift.

The post saw flood of positive comments from fellow parents eager to grab the trolley for their own children.

One user wrote: “We are on a hunt for this.”

Another commented: “I bought something very similar to this in Smyths for £60.

“When I seen this in home bargains I nearly cried, definitely a good deal!”

A third added: “I need this!”

It comes as Home Bargains shoppers are rushing to buy an “amazing” beauty gift set that’s scanning at tills for £8 instead of £31.

The “ideal stocking filler” features several L’Oreal products.

Home Bargains has slashed the cost of its L’Oreal Blemish Buster Gift Set from £38.99 to just £7.99.

That’s over 80 per cent off meaning customers save £31.00.