Younger Britons are rushing to buy life insurance at a faster than they have done for years, as global political and economic tensions soar.

They name two reasons for loading up on life cover policies, that pay a tax free lump sum to loved ones if they die.

The first is Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin. The second is US president Donald Trump.

War in Ukraine is dragging on, with Putin drawing up plans to attack the West. Brits have been urged to take out 72-hour survival kits to protect against Russian sabotage.

Trump has triggered a stock market meltdown, and could even start bombing Iran within weeks. That would only ramp up today's tensions.

One in four 18 to 34-year-olds say they are keen to take out life cover after being spooked by today's instability, according to a new poll by Carr Consulting.

They want to make sure their families are protected if the worst happens to them.

Insurers and brokers are reporting a jump in sales, after years where they barely increased at all.

Mark Townsend, chief executive of UK broker Reassured, has already seen sales rise 20% this year as people protect families and loved ones.

He advised: “People should look to cover their main debts such as their mortgage, credit cards and any other outgoings.”

Life insurance is cheaper when young and healthy. A 25-year-old non-smoker can get £100,000 of cover starting from a mere £3.92 a month.

A simple term assurance policy – which pays a tax-free lump sum if you die within a set period, say 10, 15 or 25 years – remains relatively affordable as you get older too.

At age 40, £100,000 of cover starts at around £9 a month for a non-smoker, rising to around £22 at age 50.

Smokers typically pay double. Those with health problems pay more too.

Ryan Griffin, director of protection at from Beagle Street and OneFamily has also seen a big shift in attitudes to insurance among younger people. "We are seeing a more cautious generation when it comes to protecting their lifestyles.”

If you are relatively young and healthy buying cover should be straightforward, with most applications accepted online in minutes.

It's possible to buy via an online comparison site or directly from specialist online brokers, or after taking independent financial advice.

Experts say couples should buy separate policies, not joint ones.

Many people are sceptical about insurers, saying they don't trust them to pay a claim. That's not an issue with life insurance, where claims are easy to prove and assess.

Industry figures show that 99% are paid out.

Ideally, you will never have to claim on a term policy, but life cover offers peace of mind and people crave that more than they have in years.