Country claims rising as the winter weather tightens grip

THE cold snap which has gripped the UK in recent weeks has resulted in a 25 per cent increase in rural motor claims, an insurer says.

NFU Mutual said it had also seen "worrying" increases in claims for burst pipes and warned of a further high risk of road accidents and damaged water supplies.

"Large areas of the UK are seeing the worst winter weather for 20 years and rural areas in particular are experiencing heavy snowfalls and very hard frosts," said NFU Mutual claims manager, John Kenny.

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"As a result we've seen an increase of 25 per cent in motor claims reported since the cold spell began on December 18 – many on untreated country roads."

Mr Kenny added that his organisation was finding that people who have put extra insulation in their lofts were particularly vulnerable as they are at greater risk of damage to pipes and tanks in their roof spaces.

He said: "When pipes rest above the insulation they become exposed to the cold and this is why they're freezing. To protect against this it's vital to install extra insulation around pipes and tanks.

"Country properties tend to be particularly vulnerable to frost damage because they tend to be in isolated locations where they are exposed to the full force of the elements, and unlike urban properties they rarely have other buildings around them to provide a degree of protection from the worst of the winter weather."

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