Apocalypse Now: The Text At The End Of The World
There are approximately 13,000 nuclear warheads in the world, held in descending order of stockpile size by Russia, the USA, China, France, the UK, Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea.
But should the unthinkable happen and one be launched at Britain - the most likely scenario being a missile fired from a Russian submarine - how would we know that Armageddon was on its way?
The answer... a humble text message. That's right, a text message. No 'Four Minute Warning' delivered by radio stations, TV channels and a network of sirens across the country.
That system was retired in 1992 after 39 years of peace, the reduced likelihood of an air attack and the increased use of double-glazing - the latter cited by the government as problematic in allowing people to hear any warning.
Instead, there'll be pings, beeps, whistles and tings as every mobile in the UK simultaneously receives an automated message and the nation collectively fumbles for their phones.
Under the direction of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (part of the Cabinet Office), and working in conjunction with the major network providers, the system was trialled in Glasgow, Yorkshire and Suffolk in 2013.
Some 35,000 SMS messages were sent to the public and while widely deemed a success there were concerns around the security of the system and its reach.
Further developments and the possible content of the 'final' message remain shrouded in secrecy, as do plans to integrate it with roadside warning signs and other means of public address.
Realistically though we'd only have a couple of minutes to prepare for any incoming nuclear strike, leaving the vast majority of people unable to seek any worthwhile cover.
As to whether there'd be mass hysteria or a defiantly British stiff upper lip approach, let's hope we never find out.
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