The government needs to invest greater amounts of money on improving UK flood defences, a leading insurance body has said.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that the government has under-spent on protecting low-lying UK homes from flood water - especially as the nation's climate changes and becomes more unpredictable following global warming.

Spending on anti-flood measures should increase by ten per cent to £750 million and hospitals and schools should be built to withstand the climate pressures likely to be prevalent in 2050, the industry body added.

"However successful we are at reducing our carbon footprint now, weather damage will worsen over the next 40 years because of past emissions," Stephen Hadrill, director general of the ABI, commented.

"The government needs to invest at least £750 million a year in flood defences, and should use the Climate Change Bill and Comprehensive Spending Review to set out an effective climate risk management strategy.

"Insurers remain committed to working with government and our customers to help manage the consequences of climate change."

The typical home insurance claim made by flooding-afflicted homeowners is £15,000 to £20,000, the ABI said.