Lockdown life appears to have sparked a steep rise in outbuildings catching fire over the past year.
Figures from Freedom of Information requests by insurer Zurich have revealed that shed and garage fires increased by 16 per cent in 2020 compared with 2019. Zurich's Phil Ost said: 'Homeowners up and down the country have converted outbuildings into everything from bars and yoga studios, to gyms and offices. But as Brits take refuge in their garden sheds and garages, it appears to have sparked a rise in accidental blazes.'