Insurers count cost of icy weather
Missed flights, burst pipes and car accidents caused by the freezing weather have led to a surge in the number of insurance claims this winter.
Several of the UK's largest insurance companies reported a spike in the number of claims for events caused exclusively by the weather which has wreaked havoc on Britain's transport network.
Far and away the most common claim so far this winter has been for burst pipes which always suffer badly in the sub-zero temperatures, with Halifax Home Insurance revealing that one in six of all home insurance claims it has received in the past two weeks were for burst piping, up from one in 10 earlier in December before the 'big freeze' took hold.
The cold weather is likely to prove costly for the insurance industry this year. In 2008, burst pipes cost insurers £800 million, however, the prolonged spell of cold weather which has exposed some parts of the UK to temperatures as low as -18C, is likely to mean a significant rise in payouts in the first few months of 2010.
Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at Halifax Home Insurance, said: "The average cost to repair damage caused by a burst pipe is around £2,000, so it is worth ensuring the home is properly insured, taking steps to prevent frozen pipes, and also knowing what to do to limit damage if a pipe does burst."
Many of the UK's airports have also been closed at some point in the past two weeks leading to a sharp rise in the number of travel insurance claims for missed or cancelled flights.
On the UK's roads, slippery conditions have resulted in a rise in the proportion of single motor vehicle accidents and collisions with parked cars as those brave enough to venture onto ungritted roads come unstuck when competing with icy road surfaces.
Insurer More Than said it had been "exceptionally busy" this winter, receiving 50% more claims than it would usually expect for the time of year.