Insurance claims rocketed as people reported damage to cars and buildings following the UK’s coldest winter for 30 years.

The British insurance industry footed a bill of £650 million this winter as people in the UK endured the coldest winter for 30 years.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said that UK insurers had received more than 335,000 claims from customers who had suffered damage to their homes, businesses and vehicles during the cold snap.

More than half of the total figure – £395m – was paid out for claims mainly arising as a result of accidental damage to cars as people struggled to control their vehicles in the icy conditions. As many as 267,400 customers sought recompense for the damage.

Property damage to private homes and businesses, on the other hand, cost insurers £255m. Insurance providers received 66,600 claims in December and January, more than double the number of weather damage claims they would usually received. ABI said roof damage caused by snow was one of the most common claims.

The Association’s Director of General Insurance and Health, Nick Starling, said: “Insurers will always respond quickly to the large number of claims that often result from bad weather. [They] have paid out nearly £1 billion to customers following bad weather this winter, as the heavy snow came weeks after the flooding in Cumbria, which led to insurers paying out £200m in flood claims.”

The Met Office confirmed last week (1 March) that the UK had experienced its coldest winter for 30 years. According to the weather agency the mean UK temperature was -1.5oC, the lowest since 1978/79 when it dropped to -1.2 oC.