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The majority of people in the UK awoke to heavy snow this morning, with South-east England seeing the worst snow it has had for 18 years. The severe weather conditions have caused many schools to close, airports have come to a standstill and public transport has been affected badly.

London has been one of the worst areas hit with thousands of people unable to travel, as London's transport network has been disrupted due to snow. The entire bus network and three Underground lines - the Circle, Hammersmith & City and Waterloo & City lines - have been suspended.

If you have been caught up by the chaotic circumstances of the weather, here is some advice on travel, driving and keeping your home safe;

Airports and travel:

• BAA has warned passengers travelling to and from Heathrow and Stansted airports to expect significant delays and cancellations
• Gatwick is open, although few planes are able to take off. Around 23 flights had to be cancelled and 18 diverted to other airports as the airport closed its runway for two hours on Sunday evening
• There is no service on the Gatwick Express
• Passengers due to fly out during the day are being urged to double-check their flights are not affected before they begin their journeys
• Travel insurance – check your policy for situations related to adverse weather conditions. If in doubt contact your insurance provider directly. Get a quote for travel insurance here • Many travel agents will try and sell you travel insurance when you book your holiday. However by shopping around online you are likely to find a better deal
• Annual Policies - If you are planning on making two or more overseas trips in a year it is often worthwhile investing in an annual travel insurance policy rather than several single trip policies

Winter driving:

The Highways Agency said there have been many minor accidents on the roads and the agency have recommended people should only make essential journeys. Various factors make winter driving more hazardous – such as today’s snow, poor visibility and icy conditions. For any winter motoring, consider the following advice:

• Only travel if it is essential
• If you must drive, motorists must take extreme care. Adjust your driving style for snowy and icy conditions – take your time, leave a much bigger gap, and don’t brake too suddenly
• Take out breakdown cover, in case your car fails in cold weather conditions
• Beware of opportunistic thieves – don't leave your car unattended while defrosting the vehicle as this could leave your car insurance invalid, due to negligence.
• Keeping your headlamps clean with a wipeover means you will see better and you will be seen more easily too. Check all the bulbs are all still working at the front and rear
• Consider the experience and confidence of your other named drivers. An accident by them will affect your no claim discount.

Protect your home:

The severe cold weather this winter has caused chaos for many homeowners. Homes flooded from pipes bursting by the recent snow fall, as well as freezing weather have brought an abundance of claims to insurers.

Although your home insurance policy should cover you if your pipes do burst, there are also some simple precautions to stop pipes from freezing. This is particularly important if you go away on holiday, so you can save you from returning to a nasty shock. ‘Escape of water’ inside the home is the single biggest cause of home insurance claims. Here are some tips to keep your home safe from water damage in winter:

• If you go away, leave central heating on by setting the thermostat low). This can prevent freezing so don’t turn the heating off completely.

• In cold weather, check all your taps from time to time. If little or no water flows there may be frozen water in the pipes.

• Insulate pipes that are most exposed to freezing and don’t forget corners and elbows of pipework – they tend to be the most exposed. You can find supplies at DIY stores.

• Ask a neighbour, friend or relative to check your home while you are away – this will ensure burst pipes are spotted early and any damage is minimised.

• Have your central heating system checked and serviced regularly – a leaking radiator valve can also cause water damage.

• Turn off any indoor valves on pipes that lead to taps outside your home. Then open the outside tap and leave it open to let any water drain. This ensures there is no water in the pipes to freeze.

It is vital that you take out home insurance so that you are covered if your home is damaged in anyway, not to mention the other risks that it covers, such as burglary. Buying and renewing your house insurance is essential for any homeowner or tenant.