Builders who are laying concrete in cold weather conditions should always have concrete frost blankets on hand.

This is the advice of ConcreteNetwork.com, which said construction professionals should have blankets available even if they do not think it is going to get particularly cold.

Making sure concrete is protected in low temperatures could potentially save a building firm thousands of pounds, as weather damage can significantly slow down a construction job and add extra costs to the project.

Builders in the UK who failed to take this advice may have experienced this firsthand in recent weeks, as the country experienced the most severe winter conditions in almost three decades last month.

ConcreteNetwork.com also recommended that builders make sure they never place concrete onto frozen ground, as the concrete would crack when the ice or snow thaws.

It also warned that the low temperatures could result in the bottom staying soft and only the top part setting, a process called crusting.