By Charlotte Beugge

Winter may be late in arriving but if predictions that this week will see freezing temperatures in the UK are correct, many households could suffer.

Home insurer Direct Line says that 40% of homes will be vulnerable to problems caused by cold weather such as frozen pipes and boiler breakdowns if the predicted freezing weather hits the UK this week.

Last winter, when the mercury hit record lows and a blanket of snow covered the country, three million Brits' homes were damaged, with roof problems (35%) and frozen or burst pipes (31%) the most common causes. Around 16% had central heating failure and 15% had total boiler breakdowns.

The Direct Line survey found that householders aged 34 or under were least likely to have prepared their homes for winter, with more than half (55%) yet to lag pipes, have their boiler checked or repair any structural damage to their property.

But three-quarters (74%) of those aged 55 and over have already taken these kinds of preventative measures.

Keeping a house winter-proof includes leaving your heating on at a low level if you are going away and if you will be absent for a while, draining your system to prevent any water damage from leaking pipes.

If your pipes are frozen, don't take a blowtorch to them - use a hairdryer or hot water bottle instead.