Car insurance prices are at an all-time high, with drivers routinely receiving quotes in the thousands of pounds to cover their vehicles.
Inevitably, people of a Daily Mail disposition are quick to point the finger as to who is to blame for our sky-high insurance costs, accussing immigrants, teenagers, teenage immigrants and uninsured drivers (who are all, if the Mail is to be believed, immigrants) of pushing up our insurance prices.
But it appears that the Richard Littlejohn fan-club is wrong. The reason why insurance is so expensive in the UK is that our roads are plagued with animals.
The 10 funniest (non-animal-related) car insurance claims
Car insurer Admiral has released details of its most bizarre and unlikely claims involving animals from the past two years.
Dave Halliday, Admiral managing director, said: "We asked our claims handlers to tell us about any unusual claims they had dealt with that really stood out for them and found that animals featured in the most memorable ones."
So, if you fancy having a laugh at other people's misfortune, scroll down to read the list in full:
1. The front seat passenger had a puppy on their lap which jumped down from the seat. The passenger reached down to pick up the puppy but accidently pulled up the handbrake, causing the car to skid into another vehicle.
2. A car was damaged at a village fete when a miniature pony broke loose and climbed over the bonnet.
3. A car was damaged by a peacock which on seeing its reflection, clawed the car.
4. A driver was distracted by a camel and an elephant tethered at the side of the road and collided with a bollard.
5. A driver drove into a telephone pole while trying to swat a fly inside the vehicle.
6. A rare show car, a Lancia Delta Intergrale, was destroyed while in storage by a nest of mice which chewed through the leather and foam of the two front seats, partially devoured the rear seats and completely stripped the leather from all four door interiors.
7. A car was damaged by a group of peacocks which escaped from the owner’s neighbour’s garden.
8. While driving, a man leaned over to stroke his dog, got distracted and crashed his car.
9. A driver caused a multi-car shunt after being startled by a spider dangling from the rear view mirror.
10. A car was parked in a woodland car park and was damaged by a male peacock which took a dislike to the vehicle.
11. A car was damaged by rats which entered the engine compartment and chewed through internal parts.
12. A car was damaged while parked in a hotel car park after it was attacked by a peacock owned by the hotel.
