An Oldham GP and a founder of a women's charity has warned plans to test a national emergency alarm on mobile phones could put domestic abuse survivors at risk.

A message and a loud alarm will appear on millions of mobile devices across the country at 3pm on Sunday (April 23) in a big to rest a new emergency alert system.

However, women's rights campaigners and health experts have warned vulnerable people and those living in precarious and possibly dangerous situations, such as victims of domestic abuse, could be put at risk or frightened by the alarm.

They warn the alarm could reveal a so-called 'silent' or 'safe' phone that victims rely on.

Dr Anita Sharma, a GP from Chadderton and women's health campaigner, explained: “Such is the trauma they are under, that those subjected to violence would find the idea of an unexpected sound on their mobile frightening.

"It might open all kinds of emotional wounds and make them believe that the perpetrator knew how to contact them.”

Dr Sharma, who is also the founder of the charity, Endometriosis Awareness North, is now raising awareness of the fact that mobile devices do have the ability to be turned off ahead of the short-burst siren - and said victims need to know that they are not being tracked.

She continued: “I am not decrying the test, far from it.

"As a doctor, my prime objective is to save lives and as a proud Oldhamer I am aware that parts of our borough have suffered floods and will welcome an effective warning system.

"But while the alarm test will soothe anxieties and remind people there are armed forces, emergency services and a government that looks out for them, there is still work to be done to engage vulnerable people and publicise their right to opt out.”

Najma Khalid MBE, the founder and director of the Women's CHAI Project which works with vulnerable adults and young people in Oldham, added: “While the test is needed to protect us at times of emergency, there should have been more time to explain what its purpose was.

"It could cause fear in some people, especially those who have suffered domestic abuse and those whose written English isn’t good.

"Children of 11 and 12 have mobile phones and there should have been a letter to households.

"So, yes it is a good idea but we have a level of responsibility to explain to everyone what it is about.”

Meanwhile, Dr Sharma is also calling on the general public to donate used mobile phones to domestic abuse charities which she said can create a "lifeline" for survivors by allowing them to stay in touch with loved ones without the fear of being traced.

To opt out of the nationwide alert, mobile phone users can turn off the 'test alerts' option in their device settings.

For more information, visit the government website for guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/alerts/system-testing

A Whitehall official said: “At the moment our plans for this first pilot phase relate to severe weather and flooding, but we do expect the use of the system to broaden out.

“This is about threats to life and limb and situations where specific advice can be issued.

“Therefore, you can conceive that we could use this in an abduction situation, or where there was a dangerous criminal on the loose, or where we require the public to look for something for that reason.

“We’re going to be led by discussions with the police and other emergency services on this.

“If we were to move to the use of the system for this reason, we do so quite cautiously.”

The government said it has also been working with charities, including those for domestic abuse victims, to try to ensure that vulnerable people will not be adversely affected by the test alert.