THE GARDEN AND CAR ALSO NEED SOME TLC

WHEN you’re worrying about whether your home will be warm enough for winter, it’s easy to overlook two other major areas you need to check – your garden and car.

IN THE GARDEN: Put your hose and any fragile pots in a shed or garage and move garden furniture inside or to a more sheltered spot to minimise wear and tear.

Cut back any tree branches near the house so they can’t damage your home in the event of a storm and make sure gates can be securely fastened in windy weather. Keep a shovel outside the back door for easy access, should it snow.

WITH THE CAR: If possible, get a garage to give it a winter once-over or service, so you know it won’t let you down.

Alternatively, check the battery is strong – cold weather puts it under real strain, so make sure it can deliver.

Check the oil – a third of the broken-down cars the RAC sees have dangerously low oil levels, so keep yours topped up.

And check your car has plenty of anti-freeze in the engine and screenwash, as windscreens get filthy so quickly in winter. Keep de-icer and a scraper in the boot at all times.

Good tyres with plenty of tread will give you some extra stopping distance in an emergency. If the worst does happen, make sure you always travel with your mobile phone AND a charger and that you’ve got breakdown cover in place.

And have an emergency pack containing warm clothing and some food and drink in the boot to tide you over.