The over-50s are putting younger Brits to shame when it comes to preparing their homes for winter weather, says a new survey from Saga Home Insurance.
According to the research, the baby boomers were most likely to do wintry DIY jobs, whereas a 'you do it' culture has emerged among less enthusiastic 25 to 34-year-olds.

At a time when the UK has been experiencing the earliest widespread snowfall since 1993, Saga asked more than 2,000 adults which maintenance jobs they planned too do themselves in preparation for the winter weather.

More than a quarter of people over 50 will repair loose or missing roof tiles before winter sets in, found the survey, compared with just 1% of 25 to 34-year-olds. Meanwhile, 38% of those over 50 will cut back trees and bushes to prevent damage to the home in bad weather, compared with 10% of 18 to 24-year-olds.

Also, the over-50s were three times more likely than the under-35s to turn their hand to repairing leaking or cracked pipes. Younger age groups are far more likely to call in the professionals, with 18% of 18 to 44-year-olds more willing to pay a tradesman to fix their leaking or broken pipes, compared with a mere 5% who would try to do it themselves.

Saga Group director-general Ros Altmann said: "The older generations are far more willing to get hands on when it comes to preparing their home for winter. In contrast, the younger generation is less willing to give it a go themselves - whether this is due to a lack of know-how or time constraints is not clear. But getting your house safe and sound for the winter is a sensible thing to do and may save you time and money in the long run."