As there hasn't been much media coverage of this we hope the following information will be of use to use. The alert will be in the form of a siren on all mobile phones. When you receive the Welcome message, you do not need to take any action. The siren will stop automatically after ten seconds. A welcome message will stay on screen until you acknowledge it, just like a 'low battery' warning.

The Emergency Alerts system will enable people to be contacted via their mobile phone when lives are in danger. It will be used to warn you in the event of emergencies, such as severe flooding or other life-threatening situations.

It’s intention is that Emergency Alerts will be sent to all compatible mobile phones within an area of risk. They don’t track your location, need your phone number, or collect personal data. Only the government and the emergency services will be able to send them. If you don’t have a mobile phone, you’ll still be kept informed through other channels.

If you get an Emergency Alert on your phone, you’ll hear a loud, siren-like sound. A message on your screen will tell you about the emergency and how best to respond. You’ll be able to check an alert is genuine at gov.uk/alerts

If you receive an alert, read the alert carefully and follow the instructions. To find out more about Emergency Alerts, including on how to opt out of receiving Emergency Alerts, visit gov.uk/alerts

Attached is a short picture presentation you can use with your children to explain this to them. We hope it is of use.