What to do in the first five minutes of a leak

First, find your stopcock, usually under the kitchen sink or in an airing cupboard, and turn it clockwise to shut off the mains. Everyone in the house should know where it is before you need it.

Second, open the cold taps downstairs to drain the pipes and reduce the pressure at the leak. If the leak is near lights or sockets, switch that circuit off at the consumer unit.

Third, protect the area: towels, a bowl, and move anything valuable clear. Photograph the damage for insurance before you clean up.

Then call. JGH answers the phone around the clock and will ask a few questions before setting off so the van arrives with the right parts, often getting the repair done in a single visit.