Rain or Shine...

THIS YEAR'S fine weather has contributed to a pounds 871m saving by the insurance industry, according to the Association of British Insurers.

Domestic property claims in the first half of 1999 were 13 per cent down on last year. The absence of any major incidents of bad weather led to a 27 per cent fall in the cost of weather damage claims, and the number of claims at 18,200 also saw a drop of 18 per cent.