Make the weather your only concern this May Bank Holiday

This weekend, thousands of Brits will be heading off for the May Bank Holiday, but many will be unaware of the threat to their empty homes while they are away.

Cheshire Building Society, which provides home insurance underwritten by RSA, is urging homeowners to safeguard their homes and consider the following steps before hitting the road:

Make sure all windows are closed and locked and any alarms set. Although some windows may be out of reach for thieves, such as skylights, any open window could leave a room exposed to the elements, particularly on a rainy bank holiday.

Turn off all plugs at their sockets. Taking time to check that all unnecessary appliances are switched off, will save power and significantly reduce the risk of damage through power surges or lightning storms.

Cancel milk and papers so that they won't be left in the eye of thieves, alerting them to an empty house.

Ask a family friend or neighbour you can trust to keep an eye on your property and make sure they have your contact details in case of an emergency.

As an added protective measure, put lights on timer settings to give the impression that someone is at home.

Karen Torson, Partnerships Business Manager at Cheshire Building Society explains: "The May Bank Holiday weekend can be an exciting and chaotic time for those travelling and it is all too easy to forget how simple precautions can protect your home.

"You can also tailor your cover to protect your personal belongings whilst away from home. With an adequate policy in place, you can have a little less anxiety about the security of your property and belongings, and reserve your worries for the bank holiday traffic and weather!"

The Cheshire's ‘Select' Home Insurance policy, provided by RSA, has been awarded the maximum five star rating for product features and benefits from Independent Financial Research company Defaqto.

For more information on, visit thecheshire.co.uk.