Soaps clean up when it comes to insurance

The dramatic storylines keep soap fans on the edge of their seats, but the high rate of explosions, fires and crime in Coronation Street and EastEnders' Albert Square would see insurance claims of ten times more than average, according to a study.

Britain's favourite soaps have racked up more than 1 million of damage in the last three years, with Corrie claiming a 315,620 bill - ten times more than an average street in Manchester, the study for Esure found.

An analysis of plotlines in Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks showed explosions were the biggest cause of soap damage (311,000) followed by fires (208,420) and car crashes (173,550).

The Street's David Platt was television's biggest insurance nightmare. In one storyline he left a 10,000 trail of destruction when he vandalised windows and vehicles with a metal pole.

Corrie also had the most expensive single incident, with the siege, fire and explosion at Weatherfield's Underworld knicker factory this summer causing an estimated 150,000 of damage.

EastEnders had the highest crime rate with 70,145 worth of criminal damage. In Hollyoaks the characters suffered 32 thefts and five muggings.