UK Emergency Alert Test live updates as millions of phones to receive alarm

Millions of phones will recieve a Emergency Alert as part of a UK-wide test on Sunday afternoon. The system is being tested by the government for a second time following a previous alert in 2023.

It will be sent to all mobile phones connected to a 4G or 5G network and will cause phones to vibrate and a emit a siren for 10 seconds.

The government aims to test the system regularly to make sure it works optimally and familiarise the public with the alerts.

The test alert will say: "This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.

"You do not need to take any action. In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.

"Find simple and effective advice on how to prepare for emergencies at gov.uk/prepare.

"Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information or to view this message in Welsh. Ewch i gov.uk/alerts am ragor o wybodaeth neu i weld y neges hon yn y Gymraeg."

The system has been used in emergencies already, when 4.5 million people in Scotland and Northern Ireland received an alert warning of life-threatening conditions due to Storm Éowyn in January. It was also sent to 10,000 people in Plymouth after an unexploded WWII bomb was discovered.

The test takes place at 3pm on Sunday. Follow updates in our blog below.

A test of the emergency alert will take place around 3pm today, Sunday, September 7.

This will be the second time the emergency alert system has been tested - with the first test taking place in 2023.

Brits are being urged to "keep their cool" during the emergency alert test today, which will see phones across the UK emit a siren-like noise.

Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, said: