AS temperatures fall across East Lancashire, households are being warned by the Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) to prepare their home’s pipes for winter’s late arrival.

The water watchdog is concerned many households may not have taken steps to protect their pipework from freezing weather after the mildest December on record.

MORE TOP STORIES:

More than half of households admitted to not protecting their pipes last winter, increasing the risk of a burst pipe and being landed with an average insurance claim of £6,500 to £7,500 to clear up the mess.

Alan Lovell, chair of the consumer council for water, said: “The heavy rain and storms have already caused dreadful damage but the cold weather presents different dangers.

“A frozen pipe can burst and very quickly cause serious damage to your home along with miserable disruption. That’s why we’d urge people to take action now so they don’t pay a heavy price later.”

Even if you live in a rented property it’s worth investigating whether they have been lagged by the landlord, as a burst pipe could end up wrecking your possessions.

They also advise people to find their stop tap as being able to turn the water off quickly could save a lot of damage and fix any dripping taps or overflows - a build-up of ice can cause a blockage.

Their advice is that if you notice a leak once the water has thawed and pressure in the pipe has built up again, turn off the stop tap and call a plumber.