Millions of phones will blare to the sound of a 10-second siren this evening when the Government issues an emergency alert over Storm Eowyn. The Met Office earlier issued a red danger to life warning for wind across Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland.

Millions of people in Scotland received an emergency alert to their mobile phones after the Met Office issued a red danger to life warning for wind. The Cabinet Office alert at around 6pm on Thursday in response to Storm Eowyn was the largest real-life use of the emergency system to date.

Millions have received an emergency phone alert over the approaching Storm Éowyn, as schools and transport networks are due to shut and people asked to stay home in parts of the UK. The worst disruption is due to hit Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland on Friday,