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Many people are at risk of losing not only their favourite tunes, but also hundreds of pounds if their computer dies or they're burgled - simply because their household insurer may not protect downloaded material.

The consumer group Which? found that a third of leading home insurers' standard policies don't offer any form of 'digital information' cover, even though over 100 million tracks are downloaded by UK music lovers each year.

Budget and Esure are among those that don't cover downloads through their standard policies. Other market leaders, Direct Line and Privilege, offer up to £1,000 in 'digital information' cover.

In top place, NFU Mutual and Hiscox offer £1,000 and £2,500 worth of cover respectively.

Which? also found that four of the eight main download providers – HMV Digital, Play.com, 7digital and Tesco Entertainment – all allow customers to re-download lost tracks, meaning these customers won't have to rely on their insurance. However, iTunes states in its terms and conditions: 'Products may be downloaded only once and cannot be replaced if lost for any reason.'

Which? chief executive, Peter Vicary Smith, says: "It's surprising that, at a time when the popularity of digital downloads is soaring, insurers aren't offering music lovers the protection they need. People who buy a lot of digital music should double check their home insurance policy to make sure downloads are covered. If they're not, we'd recommend switching to a provider that has entered the digital age."