UK insurers are going to great lengths to deal with flood-affected policyholders as quickly as possible, it has been claimed.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that insurers are contacting policyholders in affected post codes to see how they can help and are bringing in extra staff to help with the volume of claims.

They are also arranging for those affected to be moved into temporary accommodation and are helping firms find alternative trading premises if they have business interruption insurance.

"Insurers already have emergency plans in place to deal with these floods, and will pull out all the stops to help policyholders," Nick Starling, the ABI's director of General Insurance and Health, said.

"Their main priority is to arrange emergency repairs, get people into temporary accommodation where needed and visit properties as soon as they can."

The ABI says that people who have been hit by flooding should contact their home insurer for help and advice - and should avoid using electricity, gas and water supplies until given the all clear.