The government has been told to strengthen its climate change bill in order to prepare the country for freak weather events.

Insurers are unhappy with the government's response to this summer's floods, which cost the industry £3 billion.

And with a climate change bill due, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has called for ministers to take action to anticipate and manage extreme weather.

"The consequences of climate change already in the system will be more erratic and violent weather, increased levels of storms, greater likelihood of flash, river and coastal flooding, and more intense heat waves," ABI director-general Stephen Haddrill told an Environment Agency conference yesterday.

"Each of these has to be anticipated and managed effectively. We already know, for instance, that sea levels are rising faster than expected.

"Much of our vital infrastructure and the economy is at risk," he added.

Insurers want the government to spend more money on flood defences, which were shown to be inadequate over the summer.

If the industry is not satisfied with the government's efforts, some homeowners could find it impossible to insure their properties against flood damage.

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