Britons own £13bn of uninsured clothing

Britons can't resist splashing the cash on new clothes but often forget to insure their purchases, with £13 billion worth of uninsured clothes and accessories stored in the nation's households, a leading insurer has claimed.

Prudential Home Insurance said that despite levels of UK personal debt exceeding £1 trillion, 25 per cent of Britons estimated the contents of their wardrobes at more than £2,000.

Six per cent of Britons, meanwhile, have proved themselves dedicated followers of fashion by owning clothes, shoes and accessories worth more than £5,000.

Many people also forget about any new clothing purchases that they make, with 77 per cent of women compared to 67 per cent of men admitting that they often find clothes in their wardrobes they have never worn or have forgotten about.

Media relations manager at Prudential Home Insurance Phil Southgate said: "It's amazing how so many people fail to insure the contents of their wardrobes, especially considering that a fifth own up to three expensive designer items.

"It is important that people [assess] the value of their wardrobes on a regular basis. We would also urge people to keep receipts as proof of purchase and for expensive items it is worth taking pictures as evidence, should you have to make a claim on your insurance policy."

Gardeners urged to protect hard work

Gardeners are being urged to protect their hard work in the garden by reviewing their insurance policies.

Co-operative Insurance is warning that, without due care and attention, the only thing likely to be growing this summer is garden theft.

Garden expenditure has boomed in the UK recently, the insurer said, but this leaves the way increasingly open for thieves.

Equipment like lawnmowers, rotavators and power washers are all sought-after items for burglars, not to mention decorative objects such as statues, pots and urns.

Worse still, objects left lying around such as spades and trowels make it easier for burglars to break in.

David Neave, director of general insurance at Co-operative Insurance, said: "Nowadays people are spending increasing sums of money on their gardens, in particular when the sun is shining."

"However, many people fail to appreciate the total value of their garden items and, more importantly, how to safeguard them."

British Crime Survey figures put the number of burglaries in England and Wales at almost 750,000 in 2005-2006.

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