People over the age of 50 should think twice before grabbing a paintbrush and attempting some DIY around their homes.

This is the opinion of the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC), which advised that a professional should be called in for major projects such as roofing, plumbing and electrical installations.

Although the organisation says there is no harm in giving a property a bit of a makeover, there are some jobs - like fitting new kitchens or bathrooms - that are best left to the experts.

NHIC director Andrew Leech said this is important "not only from the point of view of getting the job well done, but also from a safety point of view too".

In April this year, Sainsbury's Home Insurance reported that 65 per cent of Brits attempted DIY tasks in the previous 12 months.

If you are having a new kitchen fitted, then why not put items of furniture such as breakfast tables into storage so that they are out of harm's way while the work is carried out.

Written by Paul Governor