Croydon is officially the UK's 'leakiest' town, new data has revealed.

Research by Zurich UK, a home insurance company, discovered the borough has the highest number of water escape claims in 2017.

Croydonites can only hope 2018 will buck last year's trend, especially with Winter only just arriving.

Phil Ost, home insurance expert at Zurich, said: “The country has experienced its first taste of winter with temperatures dropping well below zero.

"While we all wrap up against the cold it’s also worth taking a moment to think about our homes.

"Water damage, commonly arising from cracked or damaged pipes due to freezing, can prove costly; often going unnoticed and spreading though the house.

"Not only does this cause a dent in finances worth thousands of pounds but can also ruin valued possessions. Small steps such as insulating pipework can help prevent any watery woes.”

As temperatures drop, homes without adequate insulation are at risk of freezing pipes which can prove a costly expense for households and businesses. Bolton topped the list of the most expensive claims, with an average value of £17,138 followed by Torquay (£14,383) and Llandudno (£7,353).

Damage from mains water pipes are by far the costliest with the average claims valued at £5,958.

Elsewhere in the home, its burst water pipes which cause financial woes with an average claim of £5,637, followed by fixed water tanks (£5,404), leaking pipes (£4,244) and then malfunctioning household appliances (£3,320).

Leaking pipes were responsible for the highest proportion of escape of water claims (13%), followed by leaks from flats above (11%), and burst water pipes (8%).