Shopping: Dining out in fine style

SUMMER is here and the sun is shining, so what better excuse could there be for a spot of alfresco dining in the form of a picnic?

But forget plastic-coated ready-made sarnies, bags of crisps and fizzy pop slung into a tatty carrier – there's no reason why outdoor dining can't be done in style.

Think wicker hampers, funky flasks and cheery, unbreakable plates and bowls, plus those all-important food covers to ensure that your sandwiches stay fly-free. Add a few deckchairs or a rug, and you're there.

And if you're stuck for inspiration on the food front, snap up a copy of The Great British Picnic Guide by Mark Price, the MD of Waitrose.

It contains more than 80 picnic- perfect recipes.