BT pioneers alert system

The Home Office is studying a new warning system that could ring thousands of homes simultaneously in a serious emergency.

Computer engineers at BT have come up with a replacement for the old air-raid sirens in use since the Second World War. The proposed system would alert householders in any affected areas with a recorded alert and advice message. It could be used in the case of floods, factory explosions or radioactive leaks from nuclear power stations. If approved, the system would cost about pounds 1.2m for each county hall to install.