Weather warning: Gardeners and homeowners beware

Recent warmer weather may have led homeowners to dig out their tools and get busy in the garden.

But Halifax Home Insurance is warning that freezing temperatures forecast next week could cause damage to gardens and homes if people do not prepare for it.

The Met Office has forecast a cold snap next week as Arctic winds bring snow, sleet and hail to the north and east of the UK. Temperatures are expected to plummet by as much as 10 degrees and widespread frost is expected.

To protect plants from frost damage, Halifax Home Insurance recommends covering young tender plants to provide an extra layer against the cold. Horticultural fleece is great for keeping plants warm, as well as mulches which cover the soil around the base of plants.

Cold weather can also play havoc with your home, as freezing temperatures can result in burst pipes, particularly in the loft. When temperatures drop below freezing, frozen water within pipes expands, causing pipes to swell and crack. Once this thaws, water can leak from the cracks, resulting in domestic water leaks which can cause considerable damage. Older, pre-1960s properties are particularly at risk, where the original roof remains, as they do not benefit from roofing felt beneath the tiles which, in newer properties, provides a degree of protection against the elements.

Where properties have water pipes which run on top of the floor joists, and above the level of any insulating layer, these pipes gain no benefit from the rising heat within the living space below and again, the risk of freezing is increased.

Vicky Emmott, senior manager of underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance says: "A sudden unseasonal drop in temperature can wreak havoc on people's homes and gardens if they are unprepared for it. Water from a burst pipe in a loft space can very quickly cause damage to plaster ceilings, walls, kitchen units, electrical wiring and decoration, while frost damage to plants can also add up, resulting in claims for trees and shrubs. So by simply protecting plants and insulating pipes, you can help protect yourself from disasters."

For those who experience difficulties in the coming cold period, Halifax Home Insurance provides customers with a 24 hour home emergency helpline, manned by fully trained colleagues who can offer useful information and advice on how to manage a home emergency.

The following tips can go a long way to avoiding a domestic problem during freezing weather:

Cover young plants and shrubs to protect them from frost damage

Guard pipes against the freezing temperatures by lagging any exposed water pipes

Ensure loft insulation is NOT placed beneath water tanks in the loft

Ensure that the tops and sides of water tanks are insulated

Anyone going away for an extended period is advised to turn off their water supply and drain the system, OR leave the heating on, set to at least 10 degrees Celsius / 50 degrees Fahrenheit

If safe to do so, leave the loft hatch open to allow some warm air to rise into the loft space

If your pipes do become frozen, the water supply should be turned off at the stopcock, and all taps turned on, to drain the system

Never thaw the system out without taking advice from a qualified professional

Externally, remove hose pipes from outside taps. If the tap has an internal stop tap, shut it off, drain the tap and insulate and cover the outside tap.