Emergency phone alert put domestic abuse victims at risk, campaigners say

An emergency government phone alert warning of wildfires across England and Wales put domestic abuse victims at risk, campaigners have told the BBC.

Millions of people's mobile phones lit up and bleeped with a "severe alert" notification on Friday which said there was a "very high risk of wildfires nationally".

But charities and survivors have criticised how a lack of advance warning meant there was little chance to protect those hiding secret phones in domestic abuse situations.

A government spokesperson said the alert was sent "after a direct request from fire and rescue services" and it was working closely with domestic abuse charities for tests of the system.

Most people received the blaring alert at 19:00 BST on Friday - and it came as a surprise given the government had not told people it was coming, as it has done for tests of the system.

The notification, which cautioned against the use of disposable barbecues, naked flames or fireworks , was the biggest use yet of the emergency alert system and Prime Minister Andy Burnham urged the public to take it "seriously".

A Cabinet Office press release, posted to their website at about 18:45 on Friday, was missed by many in the media, which meant there was little warning to the public.

This potentially jeopardised domestic abuse victims trying to hide secret phones they use to seek support and try to escape abusers, some campaigners have said.