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NextImg:New emergency alert update released as Britons told to 'mark the date and spread the word'

The Cabinet Office have confirmed that Britons will be sent out an emergency alert in a drill labelled "one of the biggest public safety exercises" in the UK's history.

Department chief Pat McFadden has said the phone alerts could save lives in the event of wildfires or heavy storms.

The Government previously used the systems for real-life events, such as during Storm Eowyn in January to notify people living in Scotland and Northern Ireland about the severe weather heading their way.

The alert also pinged for 3.5 million people across Wales and southwest England during Storm Darragh.

It had come into effect prior when an unexploded bomb from the Second World War was discovered in a Plymouth garden.

The upcoming drill will take place on September 7 at around 3pm, impacting phones connected to 4G and 5G networks.

Phone users will be subjected to vibrations, noises and a message.

Emergency alertGETTY |

The emergency alert drill will take place on September 7 at around 3pm

McFadden said: “From major storms to wildfires, this system could save your life in an emergency.

“Just like the fire alarm in your house, it’s important we test the system so that we know it will work if we need it.

“This test will be one of the biggest public safety exercises in our nation’s history.

“Mark the date, spread the word and take a moment to think about how you would respond in a real emergency.”

Labour Shadow Minister Pat McFaddenPA |

Pat McFadden said the phone alerts could save lives in the event of wildfires or heavy storms

But some MPs have previously voiced concerns that some members of the public may miss text alerts and information posted online.

Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrats' Cabinet Office spokeswoman, raised fears that text alerts would not reach "millions of people... without phones, without signal, without battery".

The National Centre for Domestic Abuse also flagged concerns that the system could alert an abuser to a hidden phone and advised people with them to keep them switched off during these drills.

Tracey Lee, chief executive of Plymouth City Council, has spoken out in support of the alerts, labelling them an "invaluable tool" during the evacuation of over 10,000 residents following the unexploded bomb's discovery in her city.

Plymouth evacuations after WW2 unexploded bomb discovered

PA

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Chief executive of Plymouth City Council, spoke out in support of the alerts, labelling it as an "invaluable tool" during the evacuation of over 10,000 residents

The Government has urged the public to keep emergency alerts switched on - and previously published a guide to show domestic abuse victims with a concealed device how they can opt out.

The message displayed on phones during September's drill will read: “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.

"Visit www.gov.uk/alerts for more information or to view this message in Welsh."