Householders are being urged to take action this autumn to ensure their property and pipes are protected ahead of winter.

Scottish Water has issued a reminder to property owners that preparing now for winter will help prevent problems such as burst pipes and flooding in the event of freezing temperatures at the end of the year and into the first few months of 2019.

The Met Office has also supported the call for early preventative steps to head off winter property issues.

The Scottish Water Winter Code advises anyone with a home, holiday home or business premises to take action to heat, insulate and protect their properties ahead of any cold weather.

Peter Farrer, Scottish Water’s chief operating officer, said: “It is only a few months ago that we were experiencing heavy snow and sub-zero temperatures but, during summer, we experienced the opposite extreme when the hot weather settled in for weeks on end.

“With autumn now here, it’s the ideal time to prepare for the possibility of further severe weather and the potential impact that has on property.

“Taking action now can prevent the misery of damage to property and pipes in the months to come.

“By taking steps to heat, insulate and protect properties, customers can avoid the considerable headache and heartache caused by burst pipes.

“We want to work with our customers to ensure we are all prepared for whatever winter weather we get.”

Scottish Water is offering a free stop valve sticker where people can write the name and contact number of their local licensed plumber so it is handy in case of an emergency.

To get a sticker, send an email to customermarketing@scottishwater.co.uk.

For some handy hints on how to protect your property ahead of the cold weather, visit www.scottishwater.co.uk/winter.