Most homeowners go to great trouble to ensure the inside of their home is fully covered by insurance, but they forget about the outside. Recent research has shown that too many of us are not covered for the contents of the garden.

RIAS, which specialises in insurance for the over 50s, has calculated that 64 per cent of UK adults have a lawnmower in the garden shed which costs on average £149.98. In addition, 40 per cent have a toolbox (average value £26.79) and 45 per cent garden furniture (average value £269). When you add up the total value of all of these, it can come to a significant amount.

Between them, RIAS calculates that the over 50s ‘risk a £2.6bn loss’ – but only four per cent have taken out additional insurance to cover their gardens.