Sub zero heroes on hand for householders

United Utilities staff Jason Boardman, Janice Faulkner, Karen Butler, Louise Elliott and Dane Brookes with some of the free winter advice packs the company will be handing out in Rochdale

Beat the bursts and blockages this winter with a host of free goodies from United Utilities.

The water company's Get Winter Wise roadshow will be at Asda in Rochdale from 10.00am on Wednesday 14 December handing out free advice packs.

Each free pack contains a thermometer, an ice scraper and an emergency tag to hang on your stop tap.

Campaign manager Rose Francis said there was a serious message for customers. "Every year thousands and thousands of people get caught out by the cold snap and fall victim to the misery of burst pipes and ice which can even cut off their water.

“A lot of the time we can only give them advice, because the affected pipes belong to them, not us.”

"The good news is that there are things you can do to protect your home from sub zero. So come and see us and we'll show you how," she said.

Top tips: 

• find and label your stop tap so that you know exactly where to switch the water off if you get a burst pipe.
• lag your pipes so they are much less likely to freeze and cut off your water
• have a plan like making sure you already know the number of a good plumber.