Mary Berry’s salad is a perfect summer lunch or dinner option during warmer weather – and it takes less than 10 minutes to make

Sweltering weather frequently discourages many from spending time in the kitchen making hot meals. Deciding what to prepare during hot weather can prove difficult, but thankfully, Mary Berry provides a perfect summer recipe.

The renowned TV chef has countless recipes to her name, though one especially well-suited to warmer months is her chicken, avocado and bacon salad. It serves perfectly as a summer lunch or evening meal choice.

Her recipe, featured on BBC Food, serves six people and takes under 10 minutes of cooking time, helping to reduce time spent in hot kitchens. The description notes: “Mary Berry’s yoghurt and tarragon dressing takes this chicken, bacon and avocado salad to another level.”

Mary’s recipe has received favourable feedback from those who’ve already tried it. Furthermore, it contains no eggs or nuts and is appropriate during pregnancy.

Mary Berry’s chicken, avocado and bacon salad

Ingredients

Yoghurt and tarragon dressing

300ml natural yoghurt

Half lemon, juice only

One tbsp chopped tarragon leaves

Two small spring onions, finely sliced

One tbsp Dijon mustard

One tsp caster sugar

Two tsp white wine vinegar

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salad

One cooked chicken, skin removed and meat sliced into pieces

Six rashes smoked streaky bacon

Two Little Gem, leaves separated

50g rocket

Two small avocados, sliced

25g pumpkin seeds, toasted

Salt and freshly ground pepper

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Method

Make the yoghurt and tarragon dressing by mixing all the ingredients in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Stir the cooked chicken into the dressing and make sure it’s completely coated. Cover and leave to marinate in the fridge for two hours, or overnight.

Grill the bacon or cook it in a pan until it turns crisp and golden-brown. Set aside on kitchen paper.

Once cooled, cut into small pieces. On a large serving dish, arrange two or three lettuce leaves together to create a cup shape.

Add a layer of rocket leaves. Continue until you have six lettuce cups positioned in a circular formation resembling a wreath.

Distribute the chicken mixture over the top. Add the avocado on top of the chicken.

Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and bacon pieces. Season with salt and pepper prior to serving.

Smiling through the buckets of rain, the Princess of Wales defied the odds to prove she was ‘strong enough’ to complete the Three Peaks Challenge.

In a secret endurance test, just 17 months after announcing she was in remission from cancer, Kate took on the ‘personal’ expedition to raise money for a charity supporting others living with the disease.

The future queen climbed the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – within 24 hours, starting on Saturday evening.

She carried out the challenge solo, supported en route by Mountain Rescue, and was greeted at the end by the Prince of Wales and her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and brother James Middleton.

Kensington Palace said they believed the expedition was a royal first, with the princess being the first member of the royal family to complete the Three Peaks.

The royal family celebrated the undertaking, with the monarchy’s official social media account posting: ‘Congratulations to The Princess of Wales.’

Kate revealed she had taken on the trek, not only as a physical endeavour but ‘to give something back’ and raise awareness of the wider impact of serious illness.

In a video released on Sunday, the princess said she had met some ‘incredible people’ living with and beyond cancer, adding: ‘I know personally how difficult that journey is.’

The princess, who was recorded speaking before she started the walk, said: ‘Lots of people have asked me why I’m doing this challenge, and partly, it’s personal.

‘I’m so grateful to be here, to be strong enough to walk these hills.

‘But, more importantly, it’s to give something back and acknowledge, really, all the incredible work going on up and down this country.’

Kate also released a picture smiling broadly at the misty summit of Ben Nevis wearing a drenched cagoule and trekking poles on her back.

The princess could be seen wearing her sapphire and diamond engagement ring, which belonged to William’s late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

The princess wrote: ‘I have taken on the National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back.

‘The Royal Marsden is a place that holds great meaning for me and whose care and expertise are life changing for so many people.

‘Through this challenge, I want to raise awareness for the deeper impact of serious illness and the importance of holistic healthcare.’

Sharing her own experience of cancer, she spoke of how she personally understood that the illness can affect every aspect of someone’s life.

The princess added: ‘Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in this country hear the words no-one wants to hear.

‘What follows is a path that tests every part of who we are: physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. The challenges ripple outwards, touching families, friendships, work and the quiet moments we spend alone with our thoughts.

‘Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life. I know this personally.’

Kate trekked for 23 miles, with a total ascent of more than 10,000 feet, and a driving distance of 462 miles between locations.

She was previously treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital in Chelsea, west London, and The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity has launched a specially designed fundraising page for people across the nation to donate.

Money raised will be used to help more people with cancer to benefit from holistic care.

The princess, who has long campaigned over the importance of spending time outdoors, wrote: “In the end, bravery isn’t just about pushing forward.

‘It is about knowing how to stay grounded, connected and present, no matter the terrain, or landscape you are walking through.

‘Together, we can stand alongside everyone navigating life with cancer, ensuring no-one faces this disease feeling unseen or unsupported.

‘Please know you are not alone.’

Kate, who signed her personal message with a “C”, also wrote of the benefit of holistic therapies.

Money raised will also support research into how holistic care can best work alongside clinical cancer treatments to help patients, with the goal of creating a blueprint for change, so the supportive care becomes a standard part of cancer treatment nationally.

Kate was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer early in 2024, for which she underwent chemotherapy, and she announced she was in remission 17 months ago in January 2025.

The physical challenge marks the latest milestone for the princess, who has gradually returned to royal duties, and last month restarted her international travel with a working trip to Italy.

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Man Utd midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was a late inclusion in England’s squad for the World Cup in the United States.

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was overlooked by Thomas Tuchel again in England’s final World Cup group game against Panama. Tuchel introduced Jordan Henderson in the 84th minute, but Mainoo was an unused substitute.

Henderson was a controversial inclusion in England’s squad for the tournament. The 36-year-old returned to the Premier League when he signed for Brentford last year after playing for Ajax and Al-Ettifaq.

Mainoo worked hard to get into the England squad, so will be disappointed not to have played a single minute so far. The Stockport-born midfielder is one of three outfield players in the squad (along with Trevoh Chalobah and Ivan Toney) not to have been given a single minute.

Mainoo did not start a Premier League game this season for United until Ruben Amorim was sacked in January. Michael Carrick immediately reinstated him to the team, and his sparkling form in the second half of the campaign earned him a place in England’s squad for the World Cup.

Reflecting on the first half of his season, Mainoo told England reporters in the USA: “I mean, obviously there were difficult times.

“But I tried to keep my focus on what was in front of me, take things day by day and just keep working my craft, keep working hard for the team, and I hoped the rest would come. Thankfully it has.”

When asked if he had Carrick to partly thank for his World Cup call-up, he said: “Definitely, and I told him that I was very grateful. Because if he hadn’t put me on the pitch, then I wouldn’t have been here so, I’m always grateful to him for that.”

Henderson was important for Brentford last season, but anyone who watched him and Mainoo in the Premier League should agree that it was strange to see him get onto the pitch over the United talent against Panama.

The former Liverpool midfielder has been picked for the leadership he can offer, and is said to be very close to Jude Bellingham. However, he is the past for England, and Mainoo will be a big part of the future.

Tuchel insisted Mainoo had a role to play at the World Cup when he sat down for his first press conference of the tournament.

“The squad has a significant number of players that will compete for starting minutes and starting places, [which] also gives us the chance to rotate on a high level and a significant number of players who carry the [sporting] responsibility on the highest level,” he said.

“We have a huge chunk of youthfulness in the squad. We have six players who have won titles with the under-21s. We have Kobbie, who is still young and has won his titles [and] we have Nico O’Reilly on top, who is young and already won his medals.”

Mainoo has watched the action from the bench, while O’Reilly has started two games and made an appearance from the bench in the other.

The irony is that Mainoo has a skillset that would have been hugely beneficial to England in their games against Panama and Ghana, particularly the latter fixture, in which they struggled to unlock a low block.

It was bizarre to see Henderson get into the pitch over Mainoo. Perhaps Tuchel will redeem himself by introducing him from the bench in the knockout rounds.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

The two brick-and-mortar Hip locations in Manchester and Leeds will shut but the brand will continue trading online – this after JD Sports closed 24 stores across the UK earlier this year

Two stores owned by a popular sport-fashion retail chain are set to close on high streets this week.

JD Sports is scrapping its Hip stores, with the two sites preparing to close for good. JD Sports acquired the Hip brand in 2014.

The Manchester Hip branch on Thomas Street will close down on June 28 and the Leeds branch on Yorkshire city’s Vicar Lane will follow suit at the end of the month, according to Drapers.

Despite its departure from the high street, Hip is set to continue to trade online via its website.

JD Sports was forced to closed 24 UK stores earlier this year due to financial uncertainty, but still operates 4,000 stores worldwide.

JD Sports has decided to scale back the operation and will cut underperforming stores to place more focus on more popular locations.

Last month, The Mirror reported that JD Sports will shut 175 Hibbett stores in the US in the following three years to focus on more profitable locations.

The British retailer took on the Hibbett brand in 2024 for $1.1 billion as part of its expansion in the US.

Over the past two years the sporting outlet has faced tough competition, including from Dick’s Sporting Goods, which bought Foot Locker for $2.5 billion.

The company has also recently reported a drop in annual earnings.

The brand explained that it had concerns that tensions in the Middle East could mean higher costs and decreased customer interest.

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It said that there had been no “direct exposure” – just “heightened uncertainty”.

The business shared plans to cut down on bricks-and-mortar sites in order to have “fewer, bigger and better” shops.

JD Sports told Manchester Evening News in May: “Over time, the potential future impacts of heightened uncertainty may contribute to direct cost pressures, including energy and fuel costs across our store and logistics networks, respectively, as well as potential indirect impacts on pricing and consumer demand should input cost inflation emerge.”

Last week, Belfast Live reported that the Independence Day concert, which was due to take place at Belfast City Hall, had been cancelled due to a failure to secure a headline act

The Department for Communities is scrambling to claw back up to £10,000 paid to the Ulster Scots Agency as an advance for their USA250 concert that had been scheduled to take place on 4th July at Belfast City Hall.

The USA250 concert, intended to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence, was completely abandoned last week after organisers admitted they failed to secure headline acts.

Back in January, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced a £30,000 public funding package for the event, promising a line-up of “high-profile acts” with US artists joining via video link.

Following a week of silence, the Department for Communities has now admitted that a £10,000 advance of taxpayer cash was paid out before the event collapsed.

The department also conceded that a portion of that public money has already been spent on “preparation” for the non-existent gig and cannot be recovered.

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities told Belfast Live : “Around £10,000 was allocated as an advance. We are engaging with the Ulster Scots Agency on the return of funding not expended on preparation for the event.”

The admission comes after a week of stonewalling from the department, which initially sought to distance itself from the fiasco.

Following Belfast Live’s initial coverage of the concert’s collapse last week, departmental officials contacted this publication requesting that reference to the Department for Communities be removed from the article.

Officials claimed the Ulster Scots Agency was solely responsible for the cancellation, despite Minister Lyons having personally fronted the original funding announcement.

Sinn Féin Communities spokesperson and chair of Stormont’s Communities Committee, Colm Gildernew MLA said that the Minister needs to ensure that all of the £30,000 that was allocated to the event is returned to the public purse.

“The Communities Minister has a track record of wasting public funds on his own pet projects,” he said.

“He wasted £5,500 on research on JD Vance’s genealogy in a failed attempt to prove an Ulster Scot’s connection.

“Not to mention spending over £60,000 in his department’s involvement in a legal challenge to Belfast City Council’s draft Irish Language Strategy.

“Now it’s confirmed that a concert to celebrate American Independence, which he has allocated £30,000 to the Ulster Scots Agency to organise, is not going to happen.

“The Minister needs to ensure that all of the £30,000 is returned to the public purse.

“He also needs to start putting his attention and limited departmental resources into issues that are priorities, such as building more homes and tackling poverty and disadvantage.”

When the cancellation was confirmed, a spokesperson for the Ulster Scots Agency stated that the event would not proceed due to “a number of factors, including availability of potential headline acts.”

Defending the wider programme, the DfC spokesperson added: “There is a wide range of other US-NI250 projects being delivered across the summer. More information is available at www.usa-ni250.co.uk ”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.