Don't let a New Year's Eve party leave you with a financial headache!

Householders planning to welcome in the New Year with a party are being warned to make sure they have adequate insurance.

Thousands of people across the country could find themselves significantly out of pocket on January 1 if they don't have accidental damage cover within their home contents insurance policy.

The warning follows a poll of 4,000 people by leading insurer, Cornhill Direct, which found that a happy-go-lucky attitude to hosting a New Year's Eve party could be asking for trouble. For example:

The average party host spends £271 on drinks for their guests and one in five hosts are left to clear up smashed bottles, broken glasses and bottle tops left on the floor

Just under half of those questioned said the last New Year's Eve party they hosted resulted in red wine stains on their carpets

A third of people were left with cigarette burns in the curtains, sofas and on rugs. And 15 per cent even had to clear up vomit on their carpets and soft furnishings

And the damage doesn't end there:

After splashing out up to £200 on food for the evening, 49 per cent of people later found it trodden into their carpets

One in 10 people will see personal possessions such as CDs, DVDs and even clothes go missing.

Mark Bishop, spokesman for Cornhill Direct, said: "We're not at all surprised by the results of this poll, as we receive claims for New Year party accidents and thefts every year. "

Interestingly, the survey revealed that of those people who have hosted a New Year's Eve party before, a whopping 60 per cent vowed never to do it again.

Mark Bishop continues: "The New Year is a great reason for a party, but we would suggest hosts should move as many breakable objects out of the way as possible and have plenty of bins around for people to put their rubbish in.

"For peace of mind we recommend adding accidental damage to you home contents insurance policy."