For a sizzling bank holiday, the solar-powered barbie

COOK BANGERS WITHOUT BRIQUETTES

WITH millions of us preparing to break out the barbecue for the bank holiday weekend, there’s one thought clouding our minds.

For often the worst part of alfresco dining is getting the charcoal to catch light. It can be messy and time-consuming – and make your temper smoulder too.

But a US firm has come up with a solution – a cutting-edge solar barbecue light enough to carry on a picnic. The SolSource Sport uses the sun’s rays to heat a grill to 200C (400F) in just ten minutes. Made from recyclable materials, it costs around £115, weighs just 10lb (4.5kg) and fits into a 2ft carrying case.

Curved mirrors focus the sun’s rays on to the stove, which can carry a grill or a cooking pot.

The makers say it can cook a meal in ten minutes – although it does not reproduce the smoky taste of a conventional barbecue.

Even the fickle British bank holiday weather should present no great problem, as the designers say the barbecue works as long as there is enough sun to cast a shadow.

As well as being less messy, it is much greener than charcoal or gas barbecues. By not burning fossil fuels, it does not add to the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. It also creates far less waste than disposable versions.

Those looking forward to a weekend barbecue may have to plan more carefully than they had thought, though.

The forecast is not so promising as had been hoped, with experts now saying temperatures will be slightly cooler than first forecast with a greater risk of rain. The South East is likely to be hottest tomorrow, at 28C (82F) as the heatwave of the past few days continues. But that is lower than the May record of 32.8C (91F) forecasters had warned was possible – and by the afternoon conditions will begin to turn cooler.

On Sunday, many parts will have showers, some of which are expected to be torrential and thundery, with temperatures around 24C (75F). Monday is expected to be the coolest day at 21C (70F).