Brits spend billions repairing broken mobile phones

Damaging your mobile phone can prove very costly. The average cost of repairing a cracked screen, for example, is £55, while resolving software issues typically costs £37.

And replacing a handset that is beyond repair can set you back hundreds of pounds.

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So it is hardly surprising that an estimated 2.4 million Brits are currently walking around with phones with cracked screens they have not bothered to fix, according to figures from Nationwide Building Society.

Repairing damage to your phone does not have to cost you the earth, though. If you have insurance for your phone, any repairs of replacements needed should be covered by your insurer.

And even if you don't, there are often cheaper ways of repairing minor damage - including broken screens.

DIY fixes for damaged phones

There are lots of online videos explaining how to fix mobile phone problems yourself.

Several such tutorials suggests using toothpaste to buff out minor scratches or marks on plastic phone screens, while cleaning them at the same time.

Simply squeeze a bit of non-gel-based toothpaste onto a soft cloth and rub it gently in a circular motion, before wiping away the excess with a damp cloth.

You can find out more about how this works, plus solutions for scratched glass screens, here.

If your screen is cracked, rather than scratched, you can also save money by replacing it yourself.

Just search repair kit and the name of your phone online and you will find websites that sell replacement parts and publish step-by-step guides such as this one for the Nokia Lumia 520, for which a replacement screen costs under £10.

Other issues you can often resolve by following advice found online include water damage, battery problems, and broken buttons.

How to protect your phone

You can avoid damaging your mobile phone by investing in a hard case that will cushion any falls and a screen protector to guard against scratches and cracks.

Choosing a waterproof case can also prove a good idea - especially as more than a fifth of mobile phone users damage their handsets by dropping them into the loo.

Insuring your phone is another way to avoid having to shell out for mobile phone repairs.

Shop around for the best deal: a gadget insurance policy that covers all your devices may prove better value than one specifically designed to cover your mobile, while the cover offered by mobile phone companies such as Vodafone is often expensive and riddled with exclusions.

And don't forget to check whether your phone is already covered, for example due to insurance offered with your current account or credit card, before signing up.

Dan King at Nationwide said: "It's worth considering taking a good quality mobile phone insurance policy to avoid ending up out of pocket.

"Nationwide's FlexPlus current account offers a range of benefits, including worldwide family travel and mobile phone insurance, all for £13 a month."