Celebrity chef shares top tips for the perfect summer barbecue in your garden or local park

As soon as spring is over and the days get warmer and longer, nothing is better than heading out to the back garden or local park for a barbecue. One thing we Brits know how to do is set up a DIY barbie - whether it's for an after-work gathering or a weekend party with family and friends.

And if you want to take your BBQ skills to the next level, celebrity chef and sustainability expert James Strawbridge has shared his top tips this National BBQ Month to make sure you're barbecuing to perfection. James has starred in TV shows The Hungry Sailors and It's Not Easy Being Green.

As a first general rule, he says: "Cook over embers not flames - be patient and wait for charcoal or wood to really burn down to achieve a strong constant heat to cook with. Once you have hot embers it reduces the chance of flare-ups and gives you much more control on the grill."

READ MORE: Parks in Manchester where you can get your barbecue sizzling (legally!)

He also suggests grilling some vegetables rather than having veg kebabs and salads on the side. James also insists: "To avoid your food drying out remember to baste, glaze or mop with a tasty BBQ sauce. Also, try adding a bowl of water into your BBQ oven if indirect grilling to keep your meat's moisture."

If you want to speed up the process, he suggests buying a chimney: "To avoid waiting till sundown to tuck into your BBQ get efficient and buy a chimney to light your charcoal. They are really quick and easy to use and massively reduce the set-up time before you can start cooking."

If you're wanting to help the planet, he also recommends that you invest in sustainably sourced charcoal to cook over rather than imported briquettes. And last but not least, if you want to add a smoky BBQ