Coming to a garden near you - the solar-powered barbecue

For those who want to nibble an al-fresco sausage or chicken drumstick without the guilt of adding to global warming, it is the answer to a prayer.

A barbecue powered by the sun is now on sale in the UK.

The Solar-Grill, available online for £125, is said to catch sunlight with mirrors and reflect it on to the hot plate, a strip of black metal running across the centre which absorbs the heat.



To start grilling without smoke or flames, all the chef need do is lift the lid on the shiny silver device, aim it at the sun and place the food inside.

The Swiss manufacturers say that if the clouds sweep in when food is half done, cooking can be continued with odourless alcohol-based fuel tablets.

Rolf Schneeberger, of makers Tammock Trading, said: "There's no smoke, no open fire and no pollution. It's a small contribution to saving the environment but we feel we are doing our bit to help people be more green."