THE cold snap in December may have brought a beautiful white Christmas but it wasn't such good news for insurance companies. The Margin has learned it could have cost them as much as £20 million.

Claims arising from burst pipes from December 23rd to January 3rd have cost £1 8.7 million, according to the Irish Insurance Federation. With Ireland now in the grip of another cold spell, insurers are no doubt dreaming of a claim-free spring and summer.