Well-known local couple Jeremy and Lucy Wescott have been left with a big shortfall from the insurance pay out they need to rebuild their home following an accident.

The couple were renting out a three bedroomed home under a let when it was burnt out last year following an electrical fire with no one at fault.

They had Direct Line insurance for the buy to let, which they had renewed in August 2022 at a cost of £ 242.20. But when they submitted a claim the insurance company said the re-build would cost £177,594, but they were only insured up to the value of £151.663

The 'missing' £26,000 left them feeling sick and they say they were never offered an option on increasing the final pay out, assuming the insurance company knew how much it would be.

Jeremy told Nub News : " It's a scandal ! Let's just warn people before it's too late for them."

The retired couple, who were previously the landlords at The Bell at Buckland Dinham, say they will now have to take out a bank loan or borrow from friends since the insurance company, which has paid up for a survey and the loss of rental income, is refusing to increase the overall settlement.

Under insurance is becoming a huge problem because of the soaring costs of building materials and labour.

It is estimated that building costs have soared by around 19 per cent a year, so while the insurance companies have come under fire for increasing premiums, this is not in line with the increased costs of raw materials.

Lucy told a national newspaper: " I felt like my heart had stopped when I heard . I asked how it had happened, When you take out insurance, you answer the question about your property and you are given a figure. You assume the insurer knows the right costs, There is no warning that it might not be enough,"