Millions of people in the UK have received an alert on their mobile phones this evening as the country braces for the impact of Storm Darragh. The alert was sent by the Government around 6.45pm on Friday evening, said a spokesperson for the Cabinet Office.

Approximately, three million people across parts of southwest England and parts of Wales have been sent the alert after the Met Office issued a rare 'danger to life' red weather warning for tomorrow.

Those living in areas such as Devon, Bath, North East North East Somerset, City of Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Somerset have received the message.

Welsh residents located in Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend, Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff, Monmouthshire and Newport have also been alerted.

A Cabinet Office Spokesperson said: "The Met Office has issued a red warning for wind across parts of England and Wales from 0300 hrs until 1100 hrs on Saturday 7th December.

"In light of the damaging winds and associated disruption, the Cabinet Office will issue an Emergency Alert at 1845 hrs on Friday 6th December to people in areas covered by the red warning in parts of Wales and the South West.

"The Emergency Alert system will send a message to every compatible mobile phone in the impacted areas, containing information about the red warning and guidance on how to stay safe into Saturday.

"This will be the largest ever use of the system outside a test scenario.

"Mobile phones will make a loud siren-like sound even if they are set on silent. The sound and vibration will last for about 10 seconds.

"The UK Government has well rehearsed plans in place for severe winter weather and is working with teams from devolved governments, local authorities, the emergency services and other public bodies to coordinate the response to any disruption."

Alerts will be issued ahead of the Met Office's prediction that the storm's severity could disrupt phone signals in the most heavily impacted areas.

In addition to the life-threatening risks posed by flying debris and falling trees, the agency has issued a rare red warning, indicating that the powerful winds are likely to cause power outages that may disrupt mobile phone coverage.

The red warning - which has been issued alongside amber and yellow notices - will come in force from 3am on Saturday, and will remain active until 11am the same day. It covers most of the areas in England and Wales that fall under the government's mobile alert, stretching across dozens of miles of coastline.

The warning reads: "A period of extremely strong winds will develop during the early hours of Saturday morning as Storm Darragh moves across the Irish Sea.

"Gusts of 90 mph or more are possible over coasts and hills of west and south Wales, as well as funnelling through the Bristol Channel with some very large waves on exposed beaches. The strongest winds will begin to ease from late morning, though it will remain very windy with Amber wind warnings still in force until the evening."