The floods that devastated large areas of England earlier in the summer have lead to a big increase in demand for loss adjusters, according to recruiters.

Rupert Green, unit manager at Leeds-based recruiter, Adjusting Appoint- ments, told Recruiter that following the floods the company received requests from four or five clients "for anyone who knew anything about loss adjusting", including former loss adjusters now in retirement, to do contract work.

"Candidates had now almost run out," he added.

Green said that the average length of contract had increased, with many initial three-month contracts extended up to six, nine or 12 months. One person had been taken on permanently. Salaries had increased from the upper £20,000s to the mid-£30,000s, Green said.

Pauline Tyerman, a consultant at Reigate-based Centrepoint Recruitment, which serves the southern Home Counties, said: "Loss adjusters are like gold dust. You can't get one for love nor money."

Tyerman said the market was so tight that companies were now prepared to employ candidates from other insurance backgrounds and train them up.