What your home really needs is ... a battery candle

THE determination to recreate a Mediterranean outdoor restaurant ambience in a British garden persists even when the weather is unseasonably chilly.

Crucial to this carefree alfresco scene is a set of battery-operated flameless LED outdoor candles that flicker evocatively. Some can be operated by a timer.

Instagram may feature shots of LED candles positioned in Game Of Thrones-style chandeliers hung nonchalantly from branches of trees, but you do not need to try that hard at home. Just choose LED candles that have the look of wax. Lights4fun has a wide range including the TrueGlow red candle set of four, £21.99 (one pictured, lights 4fun.co.uk). The company also offers the large Bunbury garden lantern in black that comes with a white candle (£39.99).

Nordic House ( nordichouse. co.uk) stocks candles priced from £7.50 to £16.50 that can be used summer and winter.

IKEA’s offering is the Godafton (Good Evening in Swedish) which costs just £3 ( ikea.com).