The Great British garden is a treasure trove for thieves but many Brits are neglecting to check that they are fully covered in the event of a backyard burglary, a major home insurance provider has warned.

A Lloyds TSB Insurance survey has discovered that the average UK garden contains items worth £1,237 and one-in-ten gardens hold objects worth over £3000.

Luxury items such as outdoor heaters, barbeques, exotic plants and furniture are now a staple feature in many gardens, especially in the spring and summer months. But such garden accessories can prove irresistible to thieves and Lloyds TSB is urging homeowners and gardeners to check their insurance policies.

“With all gadgets and goodies that are available, they can quickly add up and gardeners run the risk of being under-insured,” said managing director of Lloyds TSB Insurance, Phil Loney.

“Home insurance policies vary greatly and often have limits on how much they cover outside. Take time to calculate the value of everything outdoors and choose a policy to suit your gardening needs”.