With the sunshine and warm weather nothing but a distant memory once again, we've got some fun ideas for a bank holiday spent in the comfort of your own home.

Don't let the rain dampen spirits this bank holiday Monday, with plenty of fun to be had in your own home.

Why not put away the Xbox and PlayStation controllers, gather the family around and bring out the classic board games hidden away in a cupboard?

Try something to get you thinking like Cluedo, Battleships or Guess Who?

Settle down for the afternoon with the evergreen Monopoly, or just go for outright competition with Hungry Hippos, Operation or Twister.

If none of the conventional games take your fancy, take matters into your own hands and make your own.

A DIY Snakes and Ladders will get your kids creative side running wild.

If that's not enough to get the competitive streak going, why not turn the house into a treasure island. Hide clues around the house and set the kids away as they hunt for the treasure.

Alternatively, why not make a mess of the kitchen and cook together?

In honour of national biscuit day, check out our easy recipe for biscuits below.

Put your own twist on them by adding icing or chocolate chips.

:: PLAIN BISCUIT RECIPE

(Makes 24 biscuits)

350g plain flour

100g self-raising flour

125g granulated sugar

125g salted butter, diced

125g golden syrup

1 large egg, lightly beaten

Sift the flours together into a mixing bowl, add the sugar and mix well.

Add the butter. Using just the tips of your fingers, rub the ingredients together until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

When all the butter is evenly mixed in, make a well in the centre and add the syrup and the egg. Mix well, drawing in any of the flour left at the sides of the bowl and stop as soon as a ball has formed.

Place the dough onto your clean worktop. Divide into two and squash the dough into two even-sized flat discs. Cover and chill until ready to use, or roll out immediately.

To roll the dough, place it onto a sheet of parchment, cover with a second sheet and use a rolling pin to roll it properly until it is 5mm thick all over.

Transfer the whole sheet (still sandwiched between parchment) to a baking tray and place in the fridge to chill for 20-30 minutes before cutting.

Cut your biscuits carefully using cutters and save the trimmings to be re-rolled.

Preheat the oven to 170C/gas mark 4.

Evenly spread the cut biscuits on a baking tray and bake for 14-18 minutes.

Cool the biscuits on cooling racks completely before either icing, storing or eating, but be careful, as they will be fragile and hot.