Home insurance warning over unused gadgets

Britons have £2.6 billion worth of unused kitchen gadgets lurking in cupboards, but such culinary cast offs could be a potential death trap, one home insurance firm has warned.

According to research by Halifax Home Insurance, toastie makers (32 per cent) top the list of abandoned gadgets, but it is the more complicated devices that pose a risk.

David Rochester, head of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, said: Britons should ensure they always read the instructions before firing up a blow torch or electric carving knife as they could cause extensive damage to their property and potentially injure the user.

Electrical items that have not been used for a long time should be checked to make sure they are safe before use, otherwise they could cause a fire which might lead to a home insurance claim or worse, he added.

Last week, Sainsbury's Finance warned that people who carry out major DIY projects risk invalidating their home insurance.