A forecaster says it may not be a nice, settled story that many of us are hoping for.

If Christmas is already knocking and you’re just realising you still want something homemade on the table, this cake might be exactly what you need. Easy Quick Recipes has shared a simple fruit cake that delivers all the familiar festive flavours, without the long soaking time traditional Christmas cakes are known for. It leans on fruit mince (mincemeat) to do most of the heavy lifting, giving you a rich, spiced cake that feels properly Christmassy with very little fuss.