The best speed squares, compared.
Top pick: YANJINGSHE speed square, 7 inch Best value: Difistik speed square, 7 inch – The only listing on the top value band among the rest: a clear metric size under £8 with 50 or more reviews, and 3–15 mm holes. Updated October 2026.
A speed square is a triangular layout tool with a lip that hooks a board so you can mark 90° and 45°, read a degree or rafter scale, scribe a line, or steady a saw shoe. UK tapes and drawings are in millimetres, and roof pitch is usually stated in degrees, so a metric ruler matters more than an inch-rise scale copied from a framing video. You tell a suitable square by the leg length, the lip, and marks you can still read. About 110 mm stays in a pouch. About 180 mm covers belt work and 4x2. About 300 mm is the longer saw fence on a wide board. The body should stay square when you flip it, and the lip should be thick enough for the cut you make. BS 939:2007 covers engineers' try squares, not this triangle. BS 3322:1981 covers carpenters' squares and sliding bevels. A seller tolerance is not either of those grades. The checks for units, leg, lip and marks are in the [speed square buying guide](/hub/measuring-and-marking-tools/speed-square/sub/speed-square-buying-guide).
A speed square is a triangular layout tool with a lip that hooks a board so you can mark 90° and 45°, read a degree or rafter scale, scribe a line, or steady a saw shoe.
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Personal buying guide
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What unit is on your tape?
The YANJINGSHE square is a single red anodised aluminium triangle, about 18 cm on a 7 inch trade size, with laser-etched white metric scales, a broad T-shaped base, and no drilled holes, at about £5.99 and 130 g. amazon.co.uk shows 5.0 from 6 reviews, and four UK texts are in the file. Those four call it solid rather than flimsy, with clear digits, and useful past a basic square. One buyer cannot say how long the white marks will last, and that is the only criticism in the four texts. No defect is described. A 5.0 from six ratings cannot outrank a 4.7 from 1,185 on the same millimetre job. The 62/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a cheap solid metric triangle with laser-etched marks and you do not need drill-gauge holes.
Less suitable: You are choosing from star ratings, or you want a hole gauge from 3 mm to 15 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this square have drill-gauge holes?
The bullets describe a single aluminium piece with no drilled holes, and they contrast it with squares that have holes.
How are the marks made?
The bullets say laser-etched metric scales in white, on a red anodised coat. One of four UK reviews says they cannot tell how long those white marks will last.
How many UK reviews are in the file?
amazon.co.uk shows 5.0 from 6. Four UK reviews were read. No defect is described in those four.
The OX set is a metric 180 mm square and a 300 mm square, with white laser-etched scales and conversion charts on the reverse, at about £29.79 and 720 g. amazon.co.uk shows 4.8 from 730 reviews and rank 1 in Carpentry Squares on that listing, and the first 50 UK texts often praise thicker aluminium than other squares, 5 mm scribe notches, and a body that stayed square against squares the buyer already trusted. One roofing review says the numbering is wrong when moving from common cuts to hip and valley. Some reviews describe one square, or a price near £12.89, so the 730 count is not only this twin pack. A 1 inch thickness field is on the listing; one review says 4 mm stock, and the inch figure is not used as the body thickness. The model string on this listing is OX-P712301-E. The OX UK site model OX-P634701 is not the same string. The 72/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab. It is the dearest row in this set, and the mixed reviews keep it off the top pick.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want both a belt square and a 300 mm metric fence and you will check the hip-and-valley numbers yourself.
Less suitable: You only mark 4x2 cross-cuts, or you need every one of the 730 reviews to be about this twin pack.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the OX set?
The bullets list a 300 mm square and a 180 mm square, with white laser-etched metric scales and conversion charts on the reverse. The item weight is 720 g. A 1 inch thickness field is not used as the body thickness. The amazon.co.uk model is OX-P712301-E, which is not the OX UK site string OX-P634701.
Do the 730 reviews all describe this twin pack?
Some reviews describe one square, or a price near £12.89. The 730 count is not only this twin-pack listing.
What did a roofer say about hip and valley numbers?
One roofing review says the numbering is wrong when moving from common cuts to hip and valley. Several other buyers in the first 50 say the square matched squares they already trust.
The black Preciva square marks metric 90° and 45° on a 180 mm triangle with a widened T-shaped base, a 5 mm thickness field and 14 holes from 3 mm to 15 mm, at about £8.49. Across 1,185 amazon.co.uk reviews the star line is 4.7, and in the first 50 UK texts buyers who checked it call the aluminium solid and the metric marks clear, using the T-base on roof joists, cabinet handles and general marking. Several prefer it to a plastic square at this price, though one reviewer found the angle markers counterintuitive until learned and another called it a poor stand-in for a try square. The bullets state ±0.2 mm, which is seller text and not a British Standard, and the page does not say whether the marks are etched or stamped. One of those 50 reviews says the square fails a flip test, and another says the aluminium dents when dropped. The item weight is 190 g and a bullet says 200 g. The 80/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab. It is the top pick because this is the metric listing with the deepest UK review count in the set, and that single flip-test report is why you still check it before a structural cut.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a metric 180 mm square for 90° and 45° with a large UK review count, and you will flip-test it.
Less suitable: You need a stated etched or stamped mark, a 300 mm fence, or a try square for fine depth.
Specifications
Common questions
What size is the black Preciva square?
The bullets say 7 inches / 180 mm, metric, with a 5 mm thickness field. The item weight is 190 g and a bullet says 200 g.
Is the ±0.2 mm line a British Standard?
The bullets state ±0.2 mm. That line is seller text, not a cited standard. None of these listings shows a BSI grade.
Did any UK review fail a flip test?
In the first 50 UK reviews, one buyer says the square is not square when flipped and the two lines do not match. That is one report, not a cluster.
The DeWalt DWHT25227-0 is an 18 cm metric speed square with stamped marks, a fixed large base, scribe notches and an extra-thick extruded aluminium body, at about £16.25 and 230 g. amazon.co.uk shows 4.7 from 108 reviews, and only three of the texts in the file are from the UK. Those three call it solid, not heavy, and a good fit in a bag, with no criticism and no flip test. The product-dimensions field says 18 x 1 x 1 cm, which looks like a bad field next to an 18 cm triangle. The amazon.co.uk bullets do not list hip-and-valley scales or drill-gauge holes, and they do not put a second 30 cm square in the box. The DeWalt UK page's includes line also says 30 cm; this amazon.co.uk listing is the 18 cm square. The 66/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab. It stays below the black Preciva because three UK texts cannot carry a 108-review line the way the first 50 texts can.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a named 18 cm metric square with stamped marks and a thick body, and you will flip-test it yourself.
Less suitable: You came for 3–15 mm holes, a 300 mm fence, or a UK review sample you can read at length.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the DeWalt square metric?
The title says a metric speed square, 18 cm, model DWHT25227-0. The bullets describe stamped graduations, an extra-thick extruded aluminium body, a fixed large base, and scribe notches. They do not add a 30 cm square. The DeWalt UK includes line that mentions 30 cm is a different claim from this listing.
Can the 18 x 1 x 1 cm line be trusted?
The product-dimensions field is kept as printed, and the 1 cm sides look like a bad field next to an 18 cm triangle. The item weight is 230 g.
How many UK reviews are in the file?
amazon.co.uk shows 4.7 from 108. Only three UK reviews were read from that listing. They praise a solid, light square. They do not describe wear or a flip test.
The Swanson SW1201K is an imperial 7 inch and 12 inch pair in heavy-gauge aluminium, with 1/4 inch scribe notches and a 44-page Blue Book, and no layout bar, at about £21.84 and 830 g. Across 10,068 amazon.co.uk reviews the star line is 4.6, and the first 50 UK texts praise thick stock that survives a tool bag, etched marks, and the 12 inch square as a circular-saw guide. Several of those UK buyers say they wanted metric. More than one review says the 12 inch square was not square, one reports a damaged corner on arrival, and one returned the pair for rough edges. One buyer calls the body too thick for fine joinery and mentions parallax. The bullets say made in the USA. The 74/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab. The review count is the largest in the set, and the imperial scales are why it is not the top pick for a millimetre tape.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You are following a rise-per-12 cutting list and you will check the 12 inch square before you trust it.
Less suitable: Your tape and drawings are in millimetres, or you want a fine-joinery square.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Swanson kit metric?
No. SW1201K is the imperial 7 inch and 12 inch pair. The graduation range field says 1/4 inches. Several UK reviewers in the first 50 say they wanted metric.
Does it include a layout bar?
The title says without layout bar. The included components are the 7 inch square, the 12 inch square, and a 44-page Blue Book.
What faults show up in the first 50 UK reviews?
More than one review says the 12 inch square was not square. One reports a damaged corner on arrival. One calls the edges too rough for a woodworking shop, and one says the body is too thick for fine joinery.
The black Flintronic pair is one 18 cm square and one 30 cm square, with two carpenter's pencils, laser-marked metric scales and a widened T-shaped base, at about £17.99 and 530 g. The star line is 4.6 from 360, and the UK review text is the same shared pool as the two red ASINs, so you cannot add the counts together or treat black as its own trial. Shared praise covers a hard-wearing metal body, angle marks and the lip used as a circular-saw guide, including one 90° check with a spirit level. Shared criticism includes an unclear 0 cm mark, a 30 cm square that is bulky to store, a 1 mm print offset on the smaller square, a thin-body argument, and a large square out by 0.7 mm. No black-only defect can be separated from that text. The title mentions a drilled hole and does not list diameters. The 63/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab. The colour field agrees with the matte-black bullet, which the red listings do not.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the black pair at about £17.99 and you will flip-test both squares without treating 360 as a black-only sample.
Less suitable: You want separate evidence for this colour, or a drill gauge with listed diameters.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the black set a separate review sample?
No. The UK review text is the same shared pool as B0FRMPYN2G and B0FY3CZBPW. Do not add the 360 counts together.
What does this listing weigh?
The item weight is 530 g. The other two Flintronic ASINs list 540 g and 640 g at the same price of about £17.99.
Is there a black-only defect in the file?
No black-only defect can be separated from the shared text. That text includes a 1 mm print offset, a large square out by 0.7 mm, and a bend on the small square.
This Flintronic listing is a metric pair, one 18 cm square and one 30 cm square, plus two carpenter's pencils, at about £17.99, with a widened T-shaped base and laser-marked scales. The item weight is 540 g. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 360, and the UK review text matches the other two Flintronic ASINs, so that count is a shared pool rather than a sample of this red style on its own. In that shared text, buyers like the metal body, the angle marks, and the lip as a circular-saw guide, and one buyer checked 90° with a spirit level. The same text includes a width scale on the smaller square printed about 1 mm offset, a large square out by 0.7 mm, and an 18 cm body that bends more easily than the 30 cm one. The colour field says red while a bullet says matte black, and the title mentions a drilled hole without listing diameters. The 61/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want an 18 cm and 30 cm metric pair at about £17.99 and you will flip-test both squares, knowing the reviews are a shared pool.
Less suitable: You want a review sample that belongs to this colour only, or listed hole diameters.
Specifications
Common questions
What is in the red style 1 set?
The bullets list one 18 cm square, one 30 cm square, and two carpenter's pencils. The item weight is 540 g. The colour field says red, while a bullet says matte black.
Are the 360 reviews only for this colour?
The UK review text matches B0FY3CZBPW and B0FH4RNT99. The 360 count is a shared parent pool, not a separate sample for this colour.
What faults appear in that shared text?
One review says the smaller square's width scale is printed about 1 mm offset. One says the large square is out by 0.7 mm. One says the 18 cm body bends more easily than the 30 cm body.
This Flintronic style 2 listing is the red metric pair, one 18 cm square and one 30 cm square, with two carpenter's pencils and a widened T-shaped base, at about £17.99. The item weight is 640 g, which is higher than the 540 g and 530 g fields on the other two Flintronic ASINs, and the graduation range is printed as 300 mm. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 360 reviews, and the UK text matches those other files, so the count is one shared pool. In that pool, buyers praise clear marks, angle lines and the lip as a circular-saw guide. The same texts report a width scale on the smaller square about 1 mm offset, a large square out by 0.7 mm, and an 18 cm body that bends more easily than the 30 cm one. The colour field says red and a bullet says matte black. The 61/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab, and it is not a separate result from the other red ASIN.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want this red style 2 pair and you will treat the 360 reviews as one shared pool, then flip-test both squares.
Less suitable: You want proof that style 2 was reviewed on its own, or a listed set of hole diameters.
Specifications
Common questions
How does style 2 differ from the other Flintronic pairs?
This ASIN is the red style 2 listing. The item weight is 640 g, against 540 g on B0FRMPYN2G and 530 g on the black ASIN. The price is also about £17.99.
Can the 360 reviews be added to the other colours?
No. The UK review text matches the other two Flintronic files. Do not treat 360 as a separate sample for this colour.
What does the shared criticism say about the large square?
One review in that shared text says the large square is out of square by 0.7 mm. Another says the 18 cm body bends more easily than the 30 cm one.
The red Preciva is one metric 180 mm triangle, 190 g, with a 5 mm thickness field, a widened T-base and 14 holes from 3 mm to 15 mm, at about £9.99. Across 256 amazon.co.uk reviews the star line is 4.6, and 32 UK texts are in the file. Buyers call it solid for a tool bag, with clear marks, and they use it as a square, a pencil-line gauge and a circular-saw guide. One of those 32 says a cut-out at the pivot stops a continuous pencil line. There is no cluster of out-of-square reports in those 32 reviews. One review describes a 12 inch and 7 inch pair plus a pencil, which does not match this single-square title. One review gives 7 inch by 4 mm against the 5 mm field. The 73/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the red 180 mm hole square and you will live with a pivot cut-out that can break one pencil line.
Less suitable: You want the cheaper black Preciva sample, or a 300 mm fence.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a single square or a pair?
The title is one 18 cm / 7 inch square. One review describes a 12 inch and 7 inch pair plus a pencil, which does not match this title.
What did UK reviews say about marking a full line?
One of 32 UK reviews says a cut-out at the pivot stops a continuous pencil line. There is no cluster of out-of-square reports in those 32 reviews.
How thick is the body?
The item-thickness field says 5 mm. One review gives 7 inch by 4 mm. The item weight is 190 g.
The Tracer ASQ4M is a 110 mm metric belt square, 80 g, with hip and valley scales and a T-base, at about £9.99. amazon.co.uk shows 4.6 from 102 reviews, and 15 UK reviews are in the file. Several call it the right size for a pouch and useful on 4x2, 3x2, 2x2 and 6x2. Two UK reviews say the numbers are printed rather than engraved and may wear, and one says the square is not square and the sides are not straight. One review calls it plastic, against an aluminium listing, and one says it arrived scuffed. A 1 inch thickness field is on the listing and is not treated as the body thickness. The 63/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a metric pouch square with hip and valley scales and you will check that the numbers are not just printed.
Less suitable: You need a 180 mm or 300 mm saw fence, or engraved marks the listing actually states.
Specifications
Common questions
How big is the Tracer square?
The title says 4.5 inch / 110 mm. The dimensions field is 12.5 x 12.5 cm and the item weight is 80 g. A 1 inch thickness field is on the listing and is not treated as the body thickness.
Are the marks engraved?
The listing does not settle this. Two UK reviews say the numbers are printed rather than engraved. The material field says aluminium, and one review calls the square plastic.
Did a review say it was out of square?
One of 15 UK reviews says the item is not square and the sides are not straight. Several short reviews call it the right size for a pouch.
The Difistik triangle marks 90° and 45° on a metric 7 inch body, 17.8 cm on the dimensions line, with 14 holes from 3 mm to 15 mm and a widened T-shaped base, at about £6.99. Across 67 amazon.co.uk reviews the star line is 4.6, and the 16 UK texts mostly call it light and handy beside a level or a circular saw. Several short reviews call the quality decent at this price and say the usual notches are there. One buyer found it less sturdy than expected, and another said it was lighter than they wanted, with the corner point arriving rounded. The item-weight field says 70 g and a bullet says 95 g, so the listing does not settle the weight. How the marks are made is not stated. The 68/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab. It is the best value because about £6.99 buys that hole range on a clear metric size, if you accept a lighter body and 67 reviews rather than 1,185.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a cheap metric triangle with drill-gauge holes and you will check the corner before you trust a cut.
Less suitable: You need a stated etched or stamped scale, or a body the UK reviews call thick.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Difistik square metric, and does it have drill holes?
The title says a 7 inch metric triangle. The bullets list 14 hole diameters from 3 mm to 15 mm and a widened T-shaped base. The dimensions line is 17.8 cm.
Why do the weights disagree?
The item-weight field says 70 g. A bullet says 95 g. Both lines are on the listing, so it does not settle on one figure.
What did the UK reviews say about the body?
Sixteen UK reviews were read. Several call it light and handy. One says it is not as sturdy as expected, and one says the corner point arrived rounded.
The Navoys listing is an aluminium rafter square at about £4.69 and 120 g, and the page does not settle the size or the scale. The title says 7 inch, the first bullet says 6 inch, and a later bullet says one 7 inch square of about 7 inch by 10 inch, while the dimensions field is 25.4 x 17.8 cm. The bullets say the marks are etched and do not name millimetres or inches. amazon.co.uk shows 3.6 from 6 reviews, and only one UK review is in the file. That review calls it a solid tool and describes no defect, so the 3.6 line is not explained by the text. The 34/100 score is this set's listing method, not a lab. You cannot treat about £4.69 as a bargain until the size and the unit system are the same claim on the listing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already know this exact square from a shop and you are only checking the amazon.co.uk row.
Less suitable: You need a metric or imperial scale you can read off the listing before you buy.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a 6 inch or a 7 inch square?
The title says 7 inch. The first bullet says 6 inch. A later bullet says one 7 inch square, about 7 inch on the short side and about 10 inch on the long side. The dimensions field is 25.4 x 17.8 cm.
Are the scales metric?
The bullets say the marks are etched. They do not name millimetres or inches as the unit system, so the scale is not stated.
What do the reviews explain?
amazon.co.uk shows 3.6 from 6. Only one UK review is in the file, and it does not describe the scales or a defect.
Twelve amazon.co.uk listings, captured on 19 October 2026, are scored from 0 to 100 in four parts: stars, review sample, fit for the job, and value in this set. UK review notes shape the sample and the fit penalties. None of these listings shows a BSI grade, and none of the scores is a measured squareness. The highest total is the top pick, once. The highest value score among the others is best value, once.
Stars
30%The amazon.co.uk star rating divided by 5, then multiplied by 30. Stars are not an error band and not a calibration.
Review sample
25%A larger review count scores higher, up to the biggest count in this set. Shared review text across colour listings, a thin UK sample, and a file that mixes a twin pack with a cheaper single square are cut back.
Fit for the job
30%Metric scales, a leg length stated without a title clash, a second size, laser-etched, laser-marked or stamped marks, a lip, drill holes or scribe notches, and hip-and-valley scales. Out-of-square reports, a thin body, and a weight or colour clash reduce the score.
Value in this set
15%Shelf price against a job the listing and the UK reviews support. A clear metric size with a deep review count scores higher than an unsettled size or a small sample. The highest value score among the non-winners is best value.
A speed square marks 90° and 45° from a lip hooked on the board, and it can carry a degree or rafter scale. Read the unit before the brand: millimetres if your tape is metric, rise per 12 inches only if the cutting list is. Then read the leg, the lip, and how the marks are made. Prices below are the amazon.co.uk figures stored for these twelve listings on 19 October 2026. The scores are a listing method. These squares were not lab-tested.
A speed square is a triangular layout tool with a lip that hooks a board so you can mark 90° and 45°, read a degree or rafter scale, scribe a line, or steady a saw shoe. UK tapes and drawings are in millimetres, and roof pitch is usually stated in degrees, so a metric ruler matters more than an inch-rise scale copied from a framing video. Quality, on the evidence in this set, means a body that stays square when you flip it, marks you can still read, and a lip thick enough for the cut you make.
Degree marks and rafter numbers are not a length. A pitch mark does not size a rafter. If the span sits outside the published table, or the job changes the roof structure, that is a job for someone who designs roofs, not a pocket triangle.
Common cuts and hip-and-valley cuts are different scales. One roofing review of the OX set says the numbering is wrong when you move from common cuts to hip and valley. Check the numbers against a scale you already trust before you cut.
A bullet that says ±0.2 mm is seller text. BS 939:2007 is for engineers' try squares. BS 3322:1981 is for carpenters' squares and sliding bevels. None of these twelve listings shows a BSI grade. A star rating is not a calibration either.
Prefer millimetres if your tape and drawings are metric. UK roof pitch is usually in degrees, so an inch-rise scale is the wrong default. The imperial listing here is the Swanson SW1201K, 7 inch and 12 inch, at about £21.84, with a Blue Book and no layout bar. Several UK reviews say the buyer wanted metric, and more than one says the 12 inch square was not square. Metric 180 mm singles in this set include both Preciva squares, the Difistik, the YANJINGSHE and the DeWalt DWHT25227-0.
The lip is the T-base or fixed fence you press to the timber, and the face a saw shoe can run against. It is not a safety system. HSE WIS16 covers bench-saw fences and push-sticks, not a handheld saw. PUWER applies to the saw at work. Keep the guard on. Shared Flintronic reviews say the 18 cm square bends more easily than the 30 cm one, and one large square is out by 0.7 mm. The black Preciva has one flip-test failure in the first 50 UK reviews.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You mark 90° and 45° from a metric tape, often with a drill gauge, and you do not need hip-and-valley scales. The black Preciva is the top pick: a 180 mm triangle, 14 holes from 3 mm to 15 mm, at about £8.49, with 4.7 from 1,185 reviews. Flip-test it. One of the first 50 UK reviews says it fails that check.
You want etched or stamped rafter scales and a lip you can trust as a short fence, including a 300 mm leg for a wide board. The OX pair is 180 mm and 300 mm, laser-etched, at about £29.79. Some of the 730 reviews read like a cheaper single square, and one roofing review disputes the hip-and-valley numbering. Check those numbers yourself.
You are following a US framing list in inches of rise per 12 inches of run. The Swanson SW1201K is the imperial 7 inch and 12 inch pair, with a Blue Book and no layout bar, at about £21.84 and 4.6 from 10,068 reviews. It fights a cutting list in millimetres. More than one review says the 12 inch square was not square.
The top pick is the black Preciva square at about £8.49. It scores 80: a metric 180 mm triangle, 14 holes from 3 mm to 15 mm, a 5 mm thickness field, and 4.7 from 1,185 amazon.co.uk reviews, the deepest metric sample in this set. One of the first 50 UK reviews says it fails a flip test, so check it before a structural cut. The ±0.2 mm line is seller text, not a British Standard. Best value is the Difistik 7 inch square at about £6.99. It scores 68, with the same 3 mm to 15 mm holes, 4.6 from 67 reviews, and a lighter body. UK reviews call it light, one corner arrived rounded, and the weight field says 70 g against a 95 g bullet. The score is this set's listing method, not a lab.
Difistik speed square, 7 inch
The only listing on the top value band among the rest: a clear metric size under £8 with 50 or more reviews, and 3–15 mm holes.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public sources listed below. Prices and star lines are from the twelve amazon.co.uk listings captured on 19 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The tag is pcuk26-21. Prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures stored for this set on 19 October 2026. This is not a laboratory test.
