Get extra home contents cover this Christmas

As people begin shopping for their loved ones this Christmas, Post Office Home Insurance is ensuring its customers are protected over the festive period with a 10 per cent increase in contents cover during December 2012.

Buying gifts for friends and family often means there are more valuables and expensive items in the home over the festive period, and with finances already stretched, the risk of theft or accidental damage could be an unnecessary worry.

Post Office Home Insurance automatically increases the level of contents cover during big celebrations such as Christmas to ensure that any gifts or extra valuables in your home at this time of year are protected.

Post Office Head of Home Insurance, Paul Havenhand, said: "As celebrations get underway for the festive season home insurance is the last thing on your mind. By automatically raising the level of cover as standard on all our contents policies, the Post Office ensures that customers have one less thing to worry about and you can have peace of mind that your gifts and home contents are fully protected."

Top five tips for protecting your home and gifts at Christmas:

If people outside can see into your home it is best not to leave presents on display

If you are expecting a delivery or parcel make sure you are in to receive it or a neighbour can look after it until your return rather than leaving it outside on the doorstep

Don't leave packaging of expensive new goods among the rubbish

Make sure any expensive gifts are fully secure and check that your home insurance covers you for these items and whether they need to be listed as separate items on your policy

Make a photographic record of extremely expensive items

To find out more about Post Office Home Insurance, visit postoffice.co.uk.