Keep contents in the open covered

While the fresh air might be doing us good, Cheshire Building Society is reminding people to make sure their belongings are insured to avoid disappointment in the event they are damaged or stolen.

"Many homeowners regularly leave items out in the garden overnight and garden theft increased considerably in the summer moths last year, so it's important to review your insurance policy to make sure you've got adequate cover," said Karen Torson, product manager at Cheshire Building Society. "Many people automatically assume they're covered when they take a policy out, but this isn't always the case and it can leave people feeling hugely let down by their insurance providers if their claim is not met in full or, worse still, declined."

Cheshire Building Society's home contents insurance covers items in the garden, such as patio furniture, trampolines, slides, swings, even washing left out on the line up to £750. The policy also covers loss or damage to plants and shrubs up to £1,000 and as more of us are having a go at growing our own, providing the area is situated on land belonging to the home, the policy covers vegetables.

"It's always great to enjoy the sunshine", said Karen, "but it's better when you have peace of mind that if your plants or furniture in the garden should get damaged or go missing, they can be replaced."

For more information on the Cheshire Building Society's home insurance, or any of the Cheshire's products and services, visit thecheshire.co.uk