24th July 07

Figures from Halifax Home Insurance reveal that a fifth of all claims for accidental damage happen during the school summer holiday months of July and August.

During this period there is a 23% increase in claims for accidents around the home, ranging from broken windows to spillages on carpets.

Top ten regions for accidental damage claims

Rank	Region	Average cost of claim for accidental damage
1	Glasgow	£564.73
2	Edinburgh	£495.40
3	Newcastle	£509.97
4	Merseyside	£651.53
5	Cardiff and West Valleys	£738.37
6	Leeds	£537.11
7	Aberdeen	£600.73
8	Bristol	£692.58
9	Guildford	£552.89
10	Wakefield & Huddersfield	£535.69

Senior manager of Underwriting at Halifax Home Insurance, Vicky Emmott said: "It's particularly important at this time of year for parents to check their home insurance policies and make sure they are covered for accidental damage to the home and contents. This summer's heavy rains show little sign of abating, meaning children may well find themselves cooped up indoors for hours on end when they want to be outside playing, so they may get restless and find mischievous ways to amuse themselves."