Planning a worry-free winter

With the cold, winter weather already affecting many parts of the country, The Co-operative Insurance is reminding home-owners and motorists to plan ahead and be prepared for the harsh weather conditions.

Figures from the leading insurer show that almost 19% of home and motor claims are made in the first two months of the year - suggesting the worst weather could be yet to come.

James Hillon, Functional Leader of The Co-operative Insurance, explained: "Our figures from the last two years show that January and February are the worst months for both home and motor insurance claims - mainly due to the weather.

"The recent bad weather has already had a massive impact across the country with people becoming stranded in their cars because they weren't prepared for the heavy snow.

"Preparing for the winter weather doesn't need to be costly or time-consuming, there are a few simple steps which everyone can take to protect themselves, their homes and their cars this winter."

To help people with their winter preparations, the leading insurer has produced a list of top tips for motorists and home-owners:

Protect your Home

Insulate pipes to stop them from freezing
Have your boiler and fire serviced by a professional
Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Ensure drives and paths are safe - especially when snow has been cleared
If you're going away, set the heating to come on at a low setting

Protect your Car

Check your anti-freeze levels
Carry some de-icer and an ice scraper
Check your tyres, lights and wipers
Top-up your windscreen washer fluid and use a mixture containing de-icer
Prepare an emergency kit for your car, including a torch, blanket, first-aid kit, ice scraper and water bottle

James added: "Our simple advice isn't rocket-science - it's more about common sense and forward-planning. Of course, accidents will always happen, so we're simply encouraging people to take the time to think about what might go wrong and what they could do to prevent it."