The government tested its new national emergency alert system, as millions of phones across the country sounded with a siren.
The loud alarm was planned to ring at 3pm on all devices that were using 4G and 5G networks in the UK. The alert rang for 10 seconds and displayed a message notifying phone users that no action was needed in response to the test.
The emergency alert system is designed to warn the public if there is a danger to life nearby. Once established, the system is intended to be used in life-threatening situations including flooding and wildfires.
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However, lots of people reported getting today's test alert early, late or not at all. BBC DJ Zoe Ball asked: "Did someone press the alert button early… or was that just on my phone?"
Sharing a screenshot of his alert on Twitter, sports presenter Jake Humphrey had the opposite problem. He said his alert was 12 minutes late, which he described as "kind of worrying".
Also on Twitter, @SarahHemm wrote: "So it seems a) the alert went off a minute early b) masses of people didn’t get one at all. A great system lads. #emergencyalert". @catluvrT_T posted: "emergency alert went off 1 minute early."
@rikyoung123 said: "I didn't get the emergency alert, no-one else in the house did either. All on 3 mobile - could that be the problem?"
Other people reported problems. @afcDW said: "The emergency alert coming a minute early while I was zooming in on something on my phone had me jumping out of my skin."
In Liverpool city centre, there was confusion as some phones sounded the alarm before 3 and then more were heard after the hour. One man who spoke to the ECHO said he didn't know what was going on and believed there should have been more information about the test.
On the other hand, a group of American tourists said they had been informed of the alert beforehand and were used to it anyway, as the method is used in their home country.
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