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Hundreds of thousands of phones across Sussex rang out with an emergency alarm this afternoon.

Just before 3pm today residents received an emergency alert test causing their phones to vibrate and mimic a siren.

A message also appeared which read: “This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you in there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.

"In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe. Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information.

"This is a test you do not need to take any action.”

Some phones went off at different times, and the government had said the system is a ‘vital tool to keep the public safe in life-threatening emergencies’.

What did you make of the alert? Get in touch: [email protected]

Emergency alarms rings out from hundreds of thousands of phones across Sussex