Christmas home insurance warning

A leading home insurance company is warning Britons to protect their homes with adequate safety measures and necessary home insurance this Christmas.

Burst pipes, fire fiascos and other dramas over the festive season cost homeowners in the UK around £7.2 billion, according to research by Sainsbury's Home Insurance.

Accidents and bad weather have affected hundreds of thousands of homeowners in the last five years, the insurance company found.

Sainsbury's Home Insurance is now asking homeowners to protect their property against these damages, while ensuring adequate home insurance is in place if the unexpected occurs.

The festive season should be one of the highlights of the year for most people, but the number of insurance claims made in December can often increase, notes Sainsbury's Bank's Karen Preston, the home insurance manager.

The home insurance company has warned homeowners to take particular care with fire - as accidents related to flames affected 400,000 households over the last five Christmases.

Homeowners are being warned not to overload plug sockets or leave cookers unattended. The insurance provider also suggests putting a guard around any open fire.

More tips and details about home insurance can be found on the insurance company's website.