Yesterday (21st December) has been dubbed White Monday by car insurance experts, with motorists across Northern Ireland and the wider UK making twice as many claims as would be expected on a normal winter Monday.

As blizzard conditions swept many parts of the nation, AA representatives reported being "flat-out" as car insurance customers battled with the elements through the evening.

Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, said the organisation's roadside patrols described their "busiest day for years", with over 16,000 calls taken by 3pm.

"Fortunately, most accidents are at a relatively slow speed so we're not getting reports of injuries," he continued. "But an accident is always distressing and on ice can be very frightening."

Last Friday (18th December), the Cardiff motor claims office of AA Insurance reported a 31 per cent increase in the number of claims received compared with a normal winter Friday.

Claims included some from drivers who had lost control on bends and gradients, hit lamp-posts, road signs, fences or parked cars and motorists who crashed after failing to stop at a junction because of icy conditions.

The advice for Northern Ireland car insurance customers is not to take cars out "unless it is absolutely essential".