UK phones, including iPhones and Android phones, have received an Armageddon-style emergency alert today (Sunday April 23) as the government trialled a new system across the country.
At 3pm, everyone who has a compatible smartphone should have received a test alert, intended to warn the public about life-threatening situations including flooding and wildfires.
People saw a message flash up on their phone as a notification, accompanied by a siren sound and a vibration. The message read: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby. READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.
Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information. This is a test. You do not need to take any action." The alert stopped automatically after ten seconds.