Phones to buzz at 3pm TODAY during test of national alert system

Ministers have urged Brits to remain calm when their phones buzz during the latest test of the national emergency alert system at 3pm today.

Secretary of State Pat McFadden said he knows Brits will 'keep their cool' when their phones make a siren-like noise for 10 seconds, vibrate and show a message.

Emergency planners in the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms (COBR) Unit chose the time to minimise disruption as it will be the largest UK public safety exercise of its kind.

Dubbed the 'Armageddon alarm', it will be sent to all 4G and 5G-enabled phones and tablets.

There are about 87million mobile phones in the UK and the Government says about 95 per cent of the population has 4G or 5G access.