Home insurance policies could no longer offer cover against the risk of flooding if action is not taken to improve flood defences, insurers have warned.

The British Insurance Brokers' Association (BIBA) said that Britain was one of the few countries where flood cover was offered as standard.

While this should continue to be the case, insurers are growing increasingly concerned about the amount of investment going into flood defences.

"It is something that is constantly discussed – whether we can afford to do it," said the BIBA's technical services director, Graeme Trudgill.

Insurers shelled out £3 billion in claims after the floods this summer. Some leading providers have raised their premiums, while there has been talk of withdrawing flood cover from standard policies in high risk areas.

"If the government don't co-operate and help the defences, the insurance industry cannot keep paying forever," Mr Trudgill warned.

Earlier this month, the government scrambled its emergency Cobra committee in the early hours after a severe weather warning from the Met Office suggested parts of eastern England faced a major flood risk.

Despite these concerns, conditions were less harsh than predicted and there was no flooding.

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