YORKSHIRE Water has urged customers to wrap up well and protect their pipes and property from the effects of frost.

The company fears a cold snap, like the one we are currently experiencing, will lead to hundreds of calls from concerned businesses and homeowners hit by flooding caused by cracked pipes.

Water in pipes expands when it freezes, often causing pipes to rupture once the thaw sets in.

According to Yorkshire Water, householders need to start checking the lagging around pipework, cisterns and tanks in unheated areas of the house now.

Yorkshire Water conservation manager Clare Dunlop said: "We are doing all we can to prevent leakage from our network of pipes and what we are doing here is asking customers to support us and do their bit in the home and at work."