Homeowners need to make sure that they have comprehensive home insurance at this time of year, as fires are common and could end up costing Brits thousands.

A rogue firework could mean that your home goes up in flames, warns research firm Defaqto - and this in turn could lead to "considerable damage to both the structure of your property and your belongings, potentially causing total loss".

And pets left alone in the home often cause damage to sofas and carpets, as they scare as a result of the noise caused by fireworks.

Only a few insurers offer cover for this, says Jonathan Langstaff-Ellis, general insurance team supervisor at Defaqto.

"The vast majority of household insurers do not cover such damage, with the exception of approximately eight policies, five of which have this as an optional cover under the 'accidental damage' section," he revealed.

Homeowners should also realise that a fire engine could cause a lot of damage to their home should a garden fire get out of control - and that "only a handful of policies provide cover for re-landscaping gardens which have been damaged".

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