Homeowners who have to shell out for broken roof tiles and damaged fences are being urged to check that they are not paying too much.

The Building Cost Information Service (BICS), which is part of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), has issued guidance on what people should expect to pay.

This follows a week of extreme weather across Britain, with high winds and heavy rain.

"Whether your property has suffered light, medium or severe damage getting an accurate estimate of the repair cost can help put your mind at ease, as well as help you to negotiate with your insurer or contractor about the work," said Andrew Thompson, international development director at the BCIS.

The storms over the last week came as a reminder of the potentially devastating effects of the weather.

Last summer, insurers were hit with a £3 billion clean-up bill after the worst flooding to strike the country in living memory.

Earlier this year, Britain was rocked by its biggest earthquake since the 1980s.

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