British Gas is calling on mums-to-be to make sure their homes are ready for winter, as a new study by Mumsnet reveals that a staggering 50% of mums have suffered boiler breakdowns with a baby or young child in the house.

The poll of mums, commissioned by British Gas, show that expectant parents prioritise other planning activities such as decorating nurseries and buying clothes over simple household checks. It also found that over 1 in 10 mums (14%) don’t know how to check whether their heating or hot water is working.

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British Gas commissioned the Mumsnet survey as part of an education drive amongst mums-to-be that aims to highlight the importance of routine household checks ahead of the arrival of a new born.

Chris Brain, a British Gas Engineer with 20 year's experience commented: "Having responded to several call-outs from mums with young babies, I know that being left without heating and hot water is particularly stressful. At British Gas, we prioritise all those with young children or vulnerable people in the home, so if you do have young children, always mention it to us in event of an emergency.

"It would be great to see basic home checks becoming part of the baby planning routine. Sometimes the simplest of things such as bleeding a radiator or checking the water pressure in your boiler can make all the difference."

(CD)