Emergency alert: millions of UK mobile phones to receive test message on Sunday

The UK’s emergency alert system is designed to warn people if there is danger to life nearby, including outbreaks of extreme weather. Photograph: Philip Toscano/PA

Millions of mobile phones will vibrate and make a siren sound across the UK on Sunday afternoon during a test of a nationwide emergency alert system.

Handset users will also receive a message on their screens reminding them the 10-second alert, which will happen at 3pm, is a test. There are about 87m mobile phones in the UK.