Wessex Water has issued advice for customers on how to protect their homes during freezing weather conditions.

The company is concerned many people could experience leaks within their home when temperatures start to rise and the snow and ice thaws. If pipes have frozen during the cold weather they may split and might leak as it becomes warmer, which could lead to damage in the home and people without water.

Wessex Water urged people to make sure they know where their stop tap is so it can be located and turned off in the event of a leak.

Nigel Martin, head of water distribution, said: “We have seen a rise in the number of people reporting leaks and we expect to see further calls throughout the week as further problems are experienced throughout the region. Many customers who contact us to report leaks within their home have problems isolating their water supply because they simply don’t know where the stop tap is.

“It is important all homeowners know the location of their stop tap and check to see if it is working so in the unfortunate event of a leak or burst pipe the water can be turned off.”

Stop taps are often located under the kitchen sink or in a connecting garage.

In some properties it is in the downstairs cloakroom or bathroom, but it could be anywhere on the ground floor of the property.

The water company also advised customers to fix any dripping taps or overflows as even a small continuous drip could lead to waste pipes freezing.

Mr Martin said: “Residents are responsible for the maintenance of the plumbing inside their home which includes pipework, water tanks, taps and overflows.

“By fixing dripping taps, lagging cold water pipes in draughty areas such as attics or considering leaving your heating on low if you go away, you could reduce the likelihood of pipes bursting.”