Car insurance customers are being urged not to take their vehicles out "unless it is absolutely essential" after claims surged in the wake of snowy weather and blizzard conditions hitting much of the country.

UK motorists made twice as many claims as would be expected on a normal winter Monday this week, prompting car insurance experts to dub 21st December "White Monday". It followed last Friday's reports from the Cardiff motor claims office of AA Insurance that it was experiencing a 31 per cent increase in the number of claims received compared with a normal winter Friday.

They featured drivers who had lost control on bends and gradients, hit lamp-posts, road signs and parked cars, and others who crashed after failing to stop at a junction because of ice.

As car insurance customers battled with the elements through Monday evening, AA representatives reported being "flat-out". AA Insurance director Simon Douglas said the organisation's roadside patrols had 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."

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