Travellers intending to claim on their travel insurance for baggage lost at Heathrow Terminal 5 need to check whether they are covered with their insurer.

This is according to Malcolm Tarling of the Association of British Insurers, who told BBC Radio 4's The World at One show that while policies taken out before the terminal opened will still be valid, others may not be.

A number of insurers have withdrawn cover for lost bags and delayed flights at Terminal 5 on new policies - those taken out after the full extent of the problems was revealed, the BBC reports.

However, "many insurers are likely to continue with cover even though travel insurance is designed primarily to cover against events which are unforeseen and unexpected when you take the policy out", Mr Tarling commented.

He added that the Montreal Convention allows travellers to directly claim compensation for lost or damaged bags from airlines without requiring travel insurance.

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