According to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the vehicle was found ablaze on Chorley New Road.

The fire was quickly extinguished and the vehicle has since been recovered.

Police confirmed that nobody was injured and no arrests were made in connection with the incident.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Just after 10am this morning (Saturday, May 30), a fire engine from Horwich Fire Station was called to reports of a vehicle fire on Chorley New Road, Bolton.

“The crew arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters used a hose reel jet to extinguish the fire.

“Firefighters were in attendance for around twenty minutes.”

The cause of the fire has not yet been disclosed.

Traffic was affected in the area while emergency services dealt with the incident and recovered the vehicle.

Prior to the game, Wigan legend Martin Offiah described the final as being an “unofficial World Club Challenge” given that Wigan and Hull KR are the past two winners of that competition – and the tie did plenty to earn that moniker.

It was a bruising battle in the heat and yet it was genuinely impressive that the first half brought 14 points in the conditions and with such high energy action on show.

Wigan had raised some eyebrows last week when, in a Super League fixture against the Robins which teed up Saturday’s final, boss Matt Peet had named a whopping 10 changes to his side ahead of their 62-4 thrashing.

Yet there was further surprising team news to come as French, who had been set to miss four months of the season with a hamstring tear in March, came back into the matchday squad and was named on the bench.

Likewise, Hull KR named Leyland on their bench, as his pair of tries while on a short-term loan with St Helens saw him help clinch a comeback win over Wigan in their Super League derby on Good Friday.

That defeat and subsequent reaction, inspired Peet’s side to a 32-0 victory over Saints in the final to set up their place in Saturday’s final, with Peet also saying that St Helens had “lost their identity” following Leyland’s part in their Easter win.

Yet if there were any lingering fears that Wigan would falter and slip to what would have been an embarrassing defeat in light of last week’s line-up, they were put to rest early on.

Wigan were at their very best for virtually the entire 80 minutes, but it was their second-half showing that inspired their win – with the 13-minute period where Nsemba and Keighran’s double came being the turning point.

Hull KR were undone in that spell by three moments of genius, the first being Farrimond’s pinpoint kick to Nsemba, Smith’s perfectly weighted kick to Keighran and Keighran’s run to evade the Robins defence to score.

French’s try on his return may steal the headlines, yet this was a rounded team performance the like of which draws parallels with their wonderful 2025 season.

In addition to the brilliance, the game ended on a sour note for Wigan, as Walters saw red with Nsemba also involved in the reckless move on Leyland with the game virtually at its conclusion.

It’s 90 years this week since Ireland’s national airline first took to the skies, choosing Bristol as its destination. It was welcomed locally as the start of luxurious international travel, though from this distance it just looks crude, dangerous and uncomfortable. Eugene Byrne says you’ll never get him up in one of those things.

People’s recollections of the first ever international flight from Ireland, and the first ever international flight to arrive at Bristol’s airport, include a couple of stories which might be true, or which might be mis-remembered from later flights. Who knows? Memories can be deceptive, as we all know.

So in one story, one of the passengers felt queasy, then worse. There were no air-sickness bags in 1936, so he had to use his bowler hat …

At the time, the only cargo recorded as being carried on the flight were some copies of the Irish Times, but in 1966 at a banquet to mark the 30th anniversary at Bristol’s Grand Hotel, the former airport manager recalled that it also carried a pair of greyhounds.

“They ripped a hole in their cage,” recalled Leonard Williams.

“And then they chewed through the fabric of the aircraft. The plane came in with their two heads sticking through the side of the fuselage!”

Both tales might be true, but we can’t be sure. Media coverage of the event at the time was quite muted. Perhaps no-one really grasped how it was an historic moment. Not just Bristol’s first international flight, but also the first outing for Aer Lingus, Ireland’s national airline.

British headlines that day – May 27 1936 – were dominated by the Queen Mary setting off from Southampton on her maiden voyage. The immense Cunard liner’s stop-start construction had been hamstrung by money problems, but now she was finally ready, carrying British pride onto the high seas.

By contrast, the arrival of a little aeroplane with five passengers – Queen Mary carried 2,000 – in a provincial British airport barely merited a mention. It was only worth a couple of paragraphs and a picture in the local press.

Besides, compared to the sheer size and glamour of a Cunard liner, the maiden flight of Aer Lingus’s only plane was a literal wing-and-a-prayer affair.

Aer Lingus nowadays has a fleet of over 80 aircraft, 4,000 employees, and a turnover in excess of 2.5 billion Euros. In 1936 it had one plane, 12 staff and its starting capital had been advanced by an English company while it awaited Irish government funding.

The company HQ was a hut at Baldonnel Aerodrome, near Dublin. The airfield was also used to pasture sheep which had to be moved out of the way on the few occasions a plane was taking off or landing.

At 9am on May 27 1936, there was a small gathering to see the first flight off. The aeroplane, a de Havilland Dragon, was blessed by the local priest, Father O’Riordan, and there were speeches from Seán Lemass, Ireland’s Minister for Industry and Seán Ó hUadhaigh, the chairman of the new company.

The plane, named ‘Iolar’ (Irish for eagle) would look impossibly frail to modern eyes, a biplane of wood and canvas which you could easily imagine a pair of greyhounds effortlessly vandalising.

Its passengers were airline director, W. H. Morton, plus Mr and Mrs T. Fitzherbert, Mrs Seán Ó hUadhaigh (the Aer Lingus Chairman’s wife) and Mr T. J. O’Driscoll of the Irish chamber of Commerce. Mr and Mrs Fitzherbert were the only fare-paying passengers – Mrs Fitzherbert had been given the tickets by her father over dinner the previous evening – the others all being associated with the airline. The sixth seat was empty, or maybe it was for the greyhounds or the Irish newspapers.

The aircraft, piloted by Eric Armstrong took to the sky, understanding it would be a grey and overcast day over Bristol. Armstrong’s was a highly skilled and demanding job, and he was doing it all on his own – no navigator or flight engineer. The only concession to in-flight maintenance was a biscuit tin containing a few spare parts stowed under the pilot’s seat.

There was no air traffic control, no satellite guidance, and the radio could transmit but not receive.

On a later flight, one of the passengers, an experienced sea captain, thanked Armstrong when they landed in Bristol. He found the experience of going up into the clouds, then seeing no land until the plane reached Bristol astonishing.

He had sailed the world, he said, but how the pilot had smoothly brought his plane to Bristol was something he would never understand.

Meanwhile, at Whitchurch just a few of the airport staff and a handful of local dignitaries awaited Iolar’s arrival. She was due to arrive at 11am, but at that point there was no sign of her.

Then, the distant sound of engines … which continued for half an hour because the airfield was shrouded in fog. The plane circled until finally, 50 minutes late, Captain Armstrong thought it was safe to land.

The plane taxied up and her engines spluttered to a halt. While we might consider the flight hair-raising, the small article in the Western Daily Press noting the new Bristol-Dublin service called it “luxury travel”.

There was no big reception, no Lord Mayor. But the pilot and passengers were welcomed by members of Bristol City Council’s Airport Committee (the Council owned and managed the airport), Alderman A.A. Senington and Cllr R.F. Lyne before being taken by car to Temple Meads to go on to London by train.

Bristol was a natural first destination for Éire’s new state airline, given its location and the historic links, and the service would connect with rail services to and from London. In the coming months this worked well – for those who could afford the £4 single ticket or £7 return.

But not that day. Interviewed at the 30th anniversary celebrations in 1966 Mrs Sheelah Martin – wife of the late Mr Fitzherbert and now re-married – recalled that they missed the connection to London.

“It was ironic that we got there later than if we had followed the original plan to go the whole way by boat-train.”

But the service was up and running, and mostly problem-free. There was one occasion on which a strong wind helped blow Iolar to Bristol in record time. But she would be flying against that same wind on the way back and would likely run out of fuel, so was delayed.

Just a few months later Aer Lingus invested in a new, more modern aircraft, a de Havilland Dragon Rapide which would stop at Bristol before continuing on to London’s Croydon Airport. Its first flight to Bristol carried the Lord Mayor of Dublin, and this time the Lord Mayor of Bristol did turn up to greet the arrival.

The service would turn out to be a great success by the standards of the time. It was punctual (weather permitting) and in its first 12 months carried 892 passengers and nearly four tons of cargo and mail.

Everything stopped though for the Second World War. The resulting disruptions and money problems meant that it was 1951 before a direct Aer Lingus link between Bristol and Dublin was resumed.

The brave little Iolar, meanwhile, was sold to an English company in 1938 and tragically was shot down near the Scilly Isles by enemy aircraft in 1941.

Aer Lingus bought an identical machine in 1967 and it was restored by volunteers over several years in the 1980s to look just like the original.

It’s still in flying condition and has appeared at several air shows and flying displays.

The 19-year-old was with friends at Balderton Lake

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The body of a 19-year-old man has tragically been recovered from a lake in Nottinghamshire, making his the 15th water-realated death during the heatwave. The incident happened at Balderton Lake in New Balderton, near Newark after reports of a man in water.

Police were called to the scene at around 2.30pm on Thursday (May 28) NottinghamshireLive reports. Police, the fire service, and paramedics attended the scene and a 19-year-old man was recovered from the water.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics and then taken to hospital, but later died. Police say his family have been informed and that officers are supporting them at this distressing time.

There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

Chief Inspector for Newark, Clive Collings, said: “This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are solely with this young man’s family. We recognise this will be very upsetting for the local community and we encourage people to access support if they need it.

“During hot weather we know people want to keep cool but open waters are exceptionally dangerous as there is no way of telling what’s beneath the surface.”

Group manager Charlotte Weatherall-Smith, from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “On behalf of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of this young man at this incredibly difficult time.

“This is a tragic incident, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected. Incidents like this are a stark reminder of the dangers that open water can present.

“Even on warm and sunny days, water temperatures can be much colder than they appear, and entering the water can lead to cold water shock, which can be sudden, severe and potentially fatal. If you see someone in difficulty in the water, call 999 immediately and ask for the fire service.

“Encourage the person to float on their back to help them stay calm and conserve energy. For your own safety, please do not enter the water or attempt a rescue yourself, as this can put additional lives at risk.”

If you spot someone in open waters call 999 and provide the fire service with an accurate location using what3words or landmarks.

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For an hour at Hampden, Lawrence Shankland was a peripheral figure, a support act for George Hirst – Scotland’s number nine – and diminished because of it.

Shankland ran everywhere apart from where he is most effective. He dropped deep and ran wide, he sacrificed himself so that Hirst could be the one leading the line.

He was in the margins of a nervy farewell to Hampden before the team heads for the United States on Sunday.

That would change, of course, And thank goodness. Shankland pushed on, took up more dangerous positions and, surprise, surprise, scored and then scored again. Two chances and two beautiful finishes.

Shankland is, by a margin, Steve Clarke’s most accomplished striker. Let’s hope the message lands.

No more Che Adams starting the big games. We’re firmly in the Shankland era now. He’s the one you’d want in a do-or-die moment in America, a chance to keep Scotland alive in the tournament.

When the new Rangers striker made it 2-1, then 3-1, a day of toil against the 10 men of Curacao – world ranking of 82 – turned into something altogether more palatable.

Up until those moments, Scotland were in mortal danger of being sent on their way with a collective shrug from the Tartan Army, a goodbye and good riddance message as they prepared for departure.

Eventually the loss of Jurgen Locadio, the hulking forward who walked in the 38th minute after an elbow on Aaron Hickey, told. That was the turning point.

Curacao were 1-0 ahead at the time and Scotland were struggling. The stadium was like a morgue. This is not how it was meant to be.

Locadio dynamited his team’s chances and prepared the ground for Scotland’s comeback. Nobody wanted that, not Curacao and not Clarke either.

What counts as “powerhouse fruits and vegetables” or PFVs?

41 fruits and vegetables, ranked by disease-fighting potential

In order, their nutrient density scores were:

Oscar’s Lockdown Pizza, which started out of his parents’ kitchen, will close this week

A beloved Cambridge pizza business will close down for good. Fans said they were ‘struggling to come to terms’ with the news that Oscar’s Lockdown Pizza will close at the end of July.

The business, started by pizzaiolo Oscar Peake in his parents’ kitchen during the COVID pandemic. But now Oscar has said the business, which has been serving pizza from local pubs, will close this week as he plans to leave the UK for Greece. The brand has become known for its range of innovative pizzas, especially its vegan and vegetarian options.

The business began while Oscar was struggling to find work during Lockdown and ended up cooking pizzas for his friends, family and neighbours.

“People told their friends, and then eventually we ended up doing 58 pizzas in one night”, he told CambridgeshireLive, “I put flyers in people’s houses around my neighbourhood and created an Instagram page, which got thousands of followers.”

But when his parents left Cambridge for Scotland, Oscar had to move his business and ended up cooking out of the kitchen and one of the city’s best-known pubs. He said: “Luckily, the Blue Moon is an amazing pub with a strong community and great beer.

“That was an amazing feeling, and it was kind of a realisation that an expansion was a possibility. When we first started, it was quite hard, and when we got busy, it was always a bit of a disaster. Eventually, we were able to do more and more pizzas with a lower wait time, and that was really satisfying, and that was the moment I realised maybe I’m good at this and really enjoyed the process of running the business.”

Alongside serving pizza in the Blue Moon, they also began making pizza at the Portland Arms in Chesterton and in London.

Oscar has decided to close Oscar’s Lockdown Pizza after moving to Greece with his girlfriend. He mentioned how it had “been on the cards for a while” and realised how “difficult” the business would be to run from Greece, so he will move the pizza company out there instead.

To celebrate Oscar’s Lockdown Pizza’s last eight weeks in business, the brand will sell a different special pizza each week. It will also offer anyone who has proof of ordering a pizza during lockdown, either a photo or a receipt, two free pizzas as a way to say thank you.

Out of all of the pizzas he has made over the years, Mr Peake had a few favourites. He said: “We had this one pizza called the aubaby, and I was really proud of that name. We had to produce a pizza that was good enough to match the name. It’s called aubaby after aubergine, so we deep-fried aubergine and coated it in this lovely chickpea batter. Then we put it on the pizza with some mozzarella and tomato sauce to make an aubergine parmigiana, and that was one of our favourite pizzas.

“The meat and smoky is our most popular pizza. It’s by far the most ordered pizza, and it’s an original flavour made by hand, which has got hay-smoked ricotta, sweet chilli jam, rocket, and chilli flakes. It’s more popular than the cheese and tomato, and people just absolutely love it. It’s like the Big Mac of Oscars.”

After the announcement was made, the company’s social media page was flooded with comments and people who “couldn’t believe” the news, with Mr Peake having to explain his decision. He continued: “I think people really can’t quite come to terms with it. I think a lot of vegans are actually genuinely concerned we’re closing because we made our own vegan cheese and pepperoni. Every pizza we have has a vegan version available. So Oscar’s is kind of like heaven if you’re vegan.”

When asked what he wanted to say to his loyal customers, Mr Peake said: “I just want to say thank you so much to anyone who bought a pizza, as it allowed me to do my dream job for the last five years. Sorry to let you down. Thank you to anyone who has told their friends about us, who has been essential to our success. I’m very grateful.”

Fans of the brand won’t be without pizza for long, though, as the head chef of Oscar’s Lockdown Pizza, Guillo, will be opening his own pizza business at the Blue Moon pub and will continue making vegan options as well as the “world famous” tarragon and garlic mayo dip. The business will be named Carmen’s after Guillo’s grandma and will incorporate Latin and Spanish flavours into many of the pizzas.

Oscar’s Lockdown Pizza will close on Sunday, July 26, meaning there is still some time to grab one last pizza.

Ulster SFC final: Armagh 2-28 Monaghan 0-25

Armagh’s 18-year wait for an Ulster title is over. They finally got their hands on the Anglo Celt Cup with a nine-point win over Monaghan after extra-time in Clones.

The previous three Ulster finals had gone to extra-time. Two all the way to penalties. Armagh had come away from St Tiernach’s Park empty-handed on all three occasions.

This time, Kieran McGeeney’s men refused to countenance yet another familiar tale of woe on Ulster final day, but they came perilously close.

Haunted by the ghosts of past Ulster finals, they watched a seven-point lead slip away in the final quarter before powering clear with an assured display in extra-time.

After winning their semi-final bout with Down by a record-equaling 28 points a fortnight ago, the burden of expectation was firmly on the shoulders of the Orchard County.

It felt like a heavy weight to carry at different times.

Monaghan landed the first three points of the decider including a cracking two-pointer from Andrew Woods.

They were then forced to absorb a wave of relentless pressure from Armagh, who began to find their range after a sluggish start.

Indeed, Armagh only took the lead for the first time when Jarly Óg Burns registered what would prove to be their only two-pointer of the final after 17 minutes.

Burns added another before back-to-back turnovers led to scores for Conaty.

The 2024 Young Footballer of the Year was unplayable in the first half. He posted five points from play. On this kind of form, he’ll be in the conversation for Footballer of the Year if Armagh enjoy a prolonged summer campaign.

With 27 minutes played, Armagh looked like they were beginning to assert. Step forward Rory Beggan.

A foul on Stephen O’Hanlon, who’d scored himself moments earlier, gave the Scotstown goalkeeper a chance to shoot for a vital two-pointer.

Just like his last-gasp winner against Derry, Beggan turned away as soon as he made contact with the ball. He knew it was over.

A Joe McElroy point ensured Armagh led 0-13 to 0-11 at the break, but they ought to have been further clear as the electric Conaty played a great ball over the top to put Turbitt through on goal.

The Clann Éireann ace kept his shot low and, with Beggan beaten, he watched his shot crash off the base of the post.

He made amends with a converted free in the early stages of the second half and followed it up with another from play. This time Armagh made the better start to the half with Jason Duffy making it three quickfire points for the Orchard.

Oisin McGorman briefly halted Armagh’s momentum before the Farney conceded their first goal.

Dylan Byrne’s pass down the line failed to find a white and blue jersey and Armagh took full advantage,

Darragh McMullen’s pass was almost intercepted by the fingertips of Ryan O’Toole. Tiernan Kelly was in behind to collect and fire past Beggan.

Duffy tagged on another point before McMullen pointed after forcing a smart stop from Beggan to put McGeeney’s men 1-17 to 0-13 ahead.

In much the same manner as their semi-final win over Derry, Monaghan simply wouldn’t accept their fate

The introduction of Jack McCarron sparked a revival in the home side and coincided with a drop in tempo from Armagh.

Monaghan’s hero from the Derry game, he kicked 0-3 in three minutes including a two-pointer that lifted the Farney faithful.

Another two from O’Hanlon levelled the game with seven minutes of normal time to go.

Armagh fans and, perhaps, some players began to fear the worst.

Oisin O’Neill and O’Hanlon traded points as the game ticked towards the inevitability of extra-time.

Mercifully for Armagh, there’d be no penalty shootout in Clones and they took a grip on the game in the first period of extra-time with points from McConville (free), Turbitt and Rory Grugan (free) and a vital goal from Oisin O’Neill.

Slick handpassing from Conaty and Grugan set the Crossmaglen ace through on goal. This time, Armagh wouldn’t be denied.

They made hard work of it. Was it really going to be any other way?

Monaghan will be disappointed with their extra-time performance with O’Hanlon’s sixth point all they had to show for their efforts while defender Darragh McElearney picked up a late red card for an off-the-ball clash with O’Neill.

After being relegated from Division One earlier in the year, Gabriel Bannigan’s men have shown enough in the last few weeks to suggest they are capable of further surprises.

Armagh, with the Ulster Championship monkey off their back, will soon turn their attention to another tilt at All-Ireland honours.

ARMAGH: B Hughes; P McGrane, A McKay, P Burns; G McCabe, T Kelly 1-0, J Óg Burns 0-3 (1tp); J McElroy 0-2, J Duffy 0-2; D McMullen 0-1, C Turbutt 0-5 (0-2fs), T McCormack; C McConville 0-2 (0-2fs), A Murnin 0-2, O Conaty 0-6.

Subs: G Murphy for P Burns (HT), R McQuillan 0-2 for Duffy (55), O O’Neill 1-01 for McConville (58), R Grugan 0-2 (0-1f) for McElroy (65), D Magee for Kelly (71), McConville for Murnin (71), Duffy for McMullen (71), McMullen for McConville (79), B McCambridge for McCormack (87), A Forker for Turbitt (88).

MONAGHAN: R Beggan 0-2 (1tpf); O McGorman 0-2, R O’Toole 0-1, D Byrne; C McCarthy 0-4, K Lavelle, D Ward; M McCarville 0-1, K Gallagher; A Carey 0-1, M Bannigan 0-2 (0-1f), S O’Hanlon 0-6 (1tp); D Garland 0-1, A Woods 0-2 (1tp), B McCaul.

Subs: D McElearney for Ward (HT), J McCarron 0-3 (1tp) for Garland (44), R McAnespie for McGorman (44), S Mooney for McCaul (50), M Maguire for Lavelle (76), R Hanratty for Woods (81), G Mohan for Gallagher (84).

REFEREE: P Neilan (Roscommon)

The village itself has a few local amenities including a shop and a social hub

A charming little village situated around six miles west of Cambridge is the only Cambridgeshire village that saw all of its World War One soldiers safely return home. Toft has a small community with a big history including having more than 20 listed buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

The name ‘Toft’ derives from an old Viking word meaning ‘curtilage’ or ‘homestead’. The quaint village has approximately 600 residents and is ideally located for commuters within four miles of the M11 motorway.

Among the village’s listed buildings is Toft Manor, on Church Road, formerly the Rectory, which was built in 1844 along with several cottages. Toft holds a remarkable history of fortune and bravery as it is one of the rare ‘Thankful Villages’ in England and Wales where all those who served in World War One returned safely.

The term ‘Thankful Village’ was promoted by the writer Arthur Mee in the 1930s; in Enchanted Land. He wrote that a ‘Thankful Village’ was one which had lost no men in the war because all those who left to serve came home again.

The village consists of a few local amenities including a village shop specialising in South African cuisine with a Post Office, a hairdresser, a village hall known as ‘Toft People’s Hall’ and Toft Social Club that acts as a popular meeting point among the community.

Close by, on the outskirts of Comberton and reportedly within Toft Parish Boundaries, there is Comberton Village College which offers education to years seven through to 11.

House prices in Toft had an overall average of £442,468 over the last year, according to Rightmove. The majority of properties sold in Toft during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £340,000. Meanwhile, detached properties sold for an average of £647,405.

Compared to South Cambridgeshire as a whole, it is slightly more pricey. According to the Office for National Statistics, the average house price in South Cambridgeshire was £430,000 in March 2026, similar to the figure for March 2025.

A simple chicken pie is an easy way to solve a weeknight dinner, and there is one that will deliver on flavour, price and size.

Sometimes the easiest weeknight dinner isn’t a takeaway or a quick pasta – it’s the humble pie.

We have been a country of pie enthusiasts for many hundreds of years. From fruit-laden to suet-crusted pies were on the British menu since at least the 13th century.

Chicken pie is a crowd-pleaser, but if done wrong, it can turn your evening sour – as I know now all too well. To ensure you do not suffer a chicken pie disappointment, I have tested all the supermarket chicken pies to help you decide where to put your money.

I looked at steak pies from MandS, Waitrose, Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Tescos to find out which chicken pie delivers best on price and taste.

The winner was clear from the first spoonful – and it will come as a welcome surprise to your wallet. I was looking for crumbly pastry, a good flavour, and value in portion size – all of these pie prices are for two.

Marks and Spencer is somewhat of a UK national treasure, but this comes at a premium. As the most expensive pie by quite some margin, I was expecting the Gastropub Chicken, leek and smoked bacon pie to be the best. It was delicious, but another pie’s performance eclipsed it for a fraction of the price.

Of all the pies, the leek and bacon varieties were definitely more flavourful than the classic chicken pies. This was delicious.

The cooking instructions were accurate, and it was perfectly cooked through. The pastry was flaky, and there was no soggy bottom. The sesame also made for a nice pop of flavour on the crust.

Here’s the game-changer: Aldi’s chicken, bacon and leek pie tastes exactly the same as the MandS pie to me.

As a bonus, its over £3 cheaper.

The Aldi pie has a very similar rich flavour , a good amount of chicken and bacon content, and a strong pastry with sesame seeds on top.

It came out with a perfect golden crust and the first mouthful persuaded me this was a contender for the top spot.

It easily fed two people with a side of veg and would make for an easy, cheap weeknight dinner if you can’t be bothered to slave over an oven for hours.

Waitrose delivered, but it was a very mediocre, yet solid delivery. There was a good amount of chicken, bacon and leek in the filling – but the flavour was not quite there.

The pastry was good, and it cooked well. However, I felt this was just a little bland even though the price was reasonable.

This didn’t burn – it cooked well in the oven, but other than this, it was fairly unremarkable.

This was bad. The filling was easily the worst – it was watery and gelatinous. There was hardly any chicken in it and the pastry burnt despite me following the cooking instructions to a tee.

For £4.00 this is the cheapest pie but it is certainly not worth the pound discount. It tasted of very little, and the bottom was soggy. This pie needs to go back to the drawing board.

This was the only shortcrust pastry pie, and it was a nice change from the typical puff pastry – making it feel more like a substantial, traditional British pie.

Tesco says this feeds three, although it is a very similar size to the portion for two pies above. If you want to go for one of the cheaper pies this is a solid choice.

The flavour was good, the pastry was delicious and well cooked through and there was a decent amount of chicken in the filling. I would buy this again.

It is clear for me who is a winner and a looser. Aldi is in first place. I couldn’t tell it apart from the MandS pie, it was delicious and only £4.99.

Tesco is next in line for both price and taste. This was the second cheapest pie, but delivered on flavour, size, and pastry quality.

MandS followed next. I was surprised as I expected this to perform better due to it being the most expensive – but as it was so similar to the Aldi pie I cannot warrant ranking it in my top two.

Then it was Waitrose – this was a solid pie but nothing to write home about, but was cheaper than MandS and only one penny more than Aldi.

In last place – it is very firmly Sainsbury’s. The flavour was awful, the pastry burnt, and it had hardly any filling. This may be a good case study in getting what you pay for.

More surprisingly still, Waitrose was cheaper than MandS and Tesco and delivered the best pie.If you’re aiming for an affordable national pie week dinner in, I would recommend Aldi’s pie wholeheartedly.