For the 175,000 people looking forward to the biggest musical event of the year, they will be thinking more about the line-up than the risk it poses to their possessions, with thieves abound and a slim chance of recovering a lost item.

While valuables left unprotected in an unlocked tent will not be covered by a home insurance policy, a mobile phone which falls out of a pocket, lost forever under inches of mud and trampling feet, would be replaced up to a specified item limit.

To avoid the potential loss of uncovered items, esure recommends that those attending festivals this summer should not take any unnecessary valuable items with them, and should never leave them unattended.

Mike Pickard, head of risk and underwriting at esure home insurance, said: “Festivals such as Glastonbury are havens for opportunistic thieves and pick-pockets and the very nature of these types of music events radically increases the likelihood of belongings being accidentally dropped, misplaced or damaged. As a rule of thumb, try not to pack anything that is of value.

“But for those festival-goers looking to take items such as mobile phones, digital cameras, MP3 players or portable DVD players with them, it’s crucial to make sure they’re adequately insured and that steps are taken to protect personal belongings at all times.”

Students are at particular risk, taking an average £2,500 worth of items to university with them. Those still living at their parent’s address would be covered by their policy if things were lost or stolen at the festival, but those living away from home often need to arrange their own cover.

esure urges people heading of to festivals to try and leave valuables at home, or use the 24-hour property lock-ups available at Glastonbury, never leave valuables unattended in unsecured tents, only take as much money as they need and utilise the cash machines on site, leaving all unnecessary store and credit cards at home in case a wallet is lost or stolen, and checking their home contents insurance

policy to see what they are covered for.

© Fair Investment Company Ltd