Where will we get the bags from, now that they are no longer supplied readily by supermarkets at checkouts, and all responsible suppliers of food and goods are phasing out plastic wrappers?

Sales of tinned food and bottled water jump after 'Be Ready' campaign launch

Sales of essential goods such as bottled water and canned food soared in the 10 days following the launch of the government's "Be Ready" emergency preparedness campaign on 22 October, research indicates.

Hand sanitiser sales were up 83%, sales of bottled water rose 67% and tinned and jarred goods climbed 37%, according to data from retail research firm Worldpanel by Numerator.

The government's public awareness campaign encouraged people to stock up in case of disruption to essential services by severe weather or cyberattacks.

However, Worldpanel said that while households were stockpiling essentials, they were not panic buying.

The government campaign encouraged people to keep three days-worth of food and water in their homes.  Wet wipes, a torch and cash were also recommended.

After the campaign launch, the equivalent of an extra 400,000 people per day bought tinned meat, Worldpanel said, although the typical amount remained at 500g, which suggests a gradual stocking-up.

"Shoppers clearly took notice of the 'Be Ready' campaign, but this wasn't panic buying, with less than a third of households buying bottled water in October," said Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Worldpanel by Numerator.

"Growth came from more people adding the recommended items on the government's checklist to their weekly shop, not from shoppers piling their trolleys high, which is very much in line with what the government wanted households to do," he said.

Sales of tinned and jarred goods rose from £58.2m in the 10 days to 2 November 2025 to £79.5m over the same period in 2026.

Bottled water sales jumped from £13.6m to £22.8m compared with a year earlier and hand sanitiser sales climbed from £497,000 to £908,000.

Further evidence of stockpiling came from food firm Princes on Tuesday, which said demand for tinned tuna, meat and vegetables had risen following the government's campaign.

Princes interim chief executive Giuseppe Mastrolia said the jump in demand "further reinforces the relevance of our core categories in providing affordable, nutritious and convenient food solutions".

The "Be Ready" campaign warns that severe weather and cyber attacks could disrupt essential services, and British households need to make sure they have what they need - for example, bottled water, and long-life food that doesn't need to be kept in the fridge such as dried fruit and nuts.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said everyone should have "those supplies in the house to get you through those moments".

Disaster recovery expert Lucy Easthope previously told the BBC that the UK was playing "massive catch up" to other European nations in terms of preparedness.  These include France, Germany Denmark, Sweden, and Norway.

A number of experts have been calling for the UK to put more emphasis on food security, with some arguing that the government itself should take responsibility for food stockpiling, rather than individual households.

In October, a group of more than 180 experts signed an open letter to Burnham and first secretary of state Louise Haigh calling for local authorities to have a duty to prevent and respond to food supply emergencies.

They pointed out that a government survey found that 29% of people in the UK could not afford to keep a few days worth of food in the house.

Quote
You will not be able to flush the toilet. Do not try to in any way as the sewage system will not be working. You should collect your poo in plastic bags, which should be sealed and disposed of with normal household waste, ideally in an outside bin.

I think we really do need a Coffee shop Forum "helpful hints" section, as little gems like this are invaluable in enhancing our day to day lives?

The best way is to poo into a bucket, lined with a plastic bag. Don't trust the bucket to bear your weight, but sit on a chair with the seat removed. If available apply sawdust, cat litter, or dry earth to reduce smells.
Wee in a separate container that is emptied outside.

gov.uk has some information on the scripts to be used on the radio in times of a nationwide power cut:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/public-health-advice-from-uk-cmos-during-a-national-power-outage/water-and-sanitation-scripts-for-broadcast-media


Would anyone like to check if there's a "how to" video online? 

Would anyone like to check if there's a "how to" video online? 

You will not be able to flush the toilet. Do not try to in any way as the sewage system will not be working. You should collect your poo in plastic bags, which should be sealed and disposed of with normal household waste, ideally in an outside bin.

You might watch this - if you didn't see it back in 1982....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCXXzPcwj3c

A Nuclear Bomb in London | Q.E.D.: A Guide to Armageddon | BBC Archive

Thanks for that, this is not well known (or not by me, anyway)

Trivia alert, the solar modules pictured, do not appear to be very well installed !
It would appear that the modules are partly shaded by tree branches.
It is not always appreciated, that shading say 1% of the area, can reduce the energy produced by at as much as 50%.
Any branches that cause even minor shading should be cut back, or the modules relocated to an area with a clear view of the sun.

Going off at a slight tangent here (and I can, because I'm an admin ), there is a somewhat related topic article, from the BBC:


No doubt the Council will pay their own (misguided) legal costs - at their taxpayers expense. 

Hut owner wins battle to keep living in off-grid home he built


Finnimore believes building the hut was the best option during a cost-of-living and housing crisis - Image © Geoffrey Finnimore

An off-grid hut that produces its own heating and electricity can continue to be the home of the man who built it, a council has decided.

Geoffrey Finnimore, a self-employed architectural designer, erected the structure in Glandwr, near Crymych, in 2020, but never told authorities or asked for permission.

Pembrokeshire council told him he must apply for retrospective permission for the home that is self-sufficient, and also collects rain water.

However, the local authority found that because it has now been occupied as a home for more than four years, it is immune from prosecution action.

"Without my home, which I created to solve my own problems without state assistance, having to pay for other accommodation would be catastrophic for my finances and well-being," Finnimore said.

The council asked him to apply for a lawful development certificate for the property.  This is a formal legal document confirming the development is lawful.

But as he had lived there for more than four years, it meant he could not be prosecuted, so his application was accepted, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Governments telling us to stockpile much more officially now - so what do they know? Mar-a-largo being equipped with surface to air missiles (defence??). US military training soldiers to dig mass graves.  Russia Is Ready For War With Europe, Putin Warns.  What was going on at Fairford?  Trump threatens Iran escalation after the mid-terms.   

This thread, I note, is in "The West, but not trains in The West".   Am I straying too far from trains?

Some of us may know of the old Home Office buffer stores where emergency rations were stored. There was one outside Wallingford close to the station, another on the Didcot, Newbury & Southampton line at Hermitage (or was that a cold store) and another between Steventon and Grove, served by a siding off the GWR. The first two were retained for some years after rail services ceased, and on the site of the one at Wallingford is a very new housing estate.

When there was a firemen's strike decades ago, army fire engines known as Green Goddesses stored at Steventon were deployed. As I was cycling on the main road between Tilehurst and Pangbourne, a column of them came the other way.

It would NOT have to be nuclear bomb to require use of a reserve of water..
Mechanical failures, water works blown up the enemy, power failure etc. are other possibilities

I was only 9 years old in early 1974 when the three day week and rolling power cuts were on, so apart from candles and the camping stove being used, can't really remember what else we did.   

Our current newer house doesn't have a cold water tank in loft, but as we are in lower part of town, hopefully mains water won't run dry quickly. Nowadays our heating is electrically controlled but house is better insulated so will stay warm for few days if it shuts down.

(I have, however, bought a "reserve" bottle of Port, just in case!) 

I am not panic buying, I prudently stocked up long ago.
Only minor additions are expected and of course replacements for supplies that are consumed.

Unless your panels were specifically designed to run during a power cut they will cut off when the power cuts out.  This is to protect your local electrician if he has cut the power to the house and the lines men working on an external fault if your system tries to export power.

...
But, yes, at home we do have three days plus of food and water.  I would be concerned about a really long mains electric cut, even though we have some solar panels, and cash tends to be in a variety of "what is THAT?" currencies ...

I also find myself wondering if unexpected events take longer to recover from.


.

Historic 1952 Rail Disaster: Following the tragic multi-train crash on 8 October 1952, the slow lines reopened within roughly 21 hours (by 5:32 a.m. the next day), the electric lines reopened on 11 October, and the fast lines reopened with speed restrictions on 12 October 1952

The railway lines affected by the fatal Bedford train crash (which occurred on June 19, 2026) fully reopened to passenger services on Monday, June 29, 2026

Why should I stockpile and what will I need?

Do you have three days' worth of food and water in your home?

That is what the government has told all of us to have on hand to get through a national emergency, as well as some other basic items.

Its "Be Ready" campaign warns that severe weather and cyber attacks could disrupt essential services, and British households need to make sure they have what they need to get through a rocky few days.

On Friday, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said unexpected events "seem to becoming more common" and everyone should have "those supplies in the house to get you through those moments".

As one expert warns the UK is "light years" behind our neighbours when it comes to preparing for major disruption, we've drilled down into what you need and why.

The government recommends having enough supplies in the kitchen to last three days, including bottled water and non-perishable foods.

Wet wipes, a torch and cash are also recommended - you can scroll through below to see the full list.

(BBC article continues)

In the latest escalation in the Middle East, a major airport in Saudi Arabia has been atacked, presumably by houthi rebels.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cqy7lxd104xet

Of little direct relevance to to the UK, but increases the risk of regional instability.

EDITED TO ADD that a second attack has occurred.

Surely, the wind-up versions. No batteries required.....

Also, valve radios preferred...

Mark

Unless this item has appeared in lists above, one also needs an analogue radio (presumably FM) plus plenty batteries.

Indeed.

See 'The Andromeda Strain', a novel which rather spooked me, when I read it, in the early 1970s.

CfN.

Sounds idylic.  What could go wrong?

By a combination of time, official announcements on the radio, and measured radiation dose rate. In marginal conditions it might be better to sleep/rest in the shelter, but emerge for essential work.

How would you decide when it’s safe to come out again? 

Stocking the bunker.
WATER, keep a good stock in 1000L IBCs or similar. Suggest one IBC per person. That is about 30L per person per day.

FOOD, per person, 30 tins of tuna, 30 tins of fruit, 15 packs of sweet biscuits, 30 packs of savoury biscuits 15 L long life fruit juice. Or as preferred

Lighting, a 12 volt deep cycle battery of at least 1,000 AH.
Candles, matches, dry cells, torches oil lanterns.

Other stocks, blankets at least four per head, towels at least two each. Ten changes of underwear per head, and three changes of outer clothing.

Generous stocks of medicines.

hand tools and cordless power tools.

Geiger counters, at least three.

Stocking the bunker.
WATER, keep a good stock in 1000L IBCs or similar. Suggest one IBC per person. That is about 30L per person per day.

Select a reasonably  flat site, at least 100M by 100 M.

Plans for above ground shelter;
Select a reasonably  flat site, at least 100M by 100 M.
Remove lose topsoil and reserve for later use.
Lay a reinforced concrete floor about 30M by 30M. Ensure a SLIGHT slope down towards the door way.
Build internal and external walls out of blockwork. No internal walls to be unsupported for more than 3M. supports may consist of internal walls or small walls to support shelves, batteries and water tanks.
Roof with precast concrete slabs.
Waterproof the roof and walls with thick bitumen, Cover roof and walls with plywood. coated with bitumen.
Wait for concrete to cure.
Bury the entire structure with imported soil, and apply the previously saved top soil atop this. Seed with "pasture mixture"

US removes all bombers from RAF Fairford base


A Rockwell B1 Lancer heavy bomber takes off to depart for home at RAF Fairford on Sunday - Image © Getty Images

The US has withdrawn all of its bombers from RAF Fairford, the British military base at the centre of an incident being investigated by counter terror police.

A statement from a US department official confirmed on Sunday it had removed all of its bombers from the base back to their home stations in America.

The US did not give a reason for the withdrawal, but it follows a major incident on 27 September when police were alerted to three "suspicious vehicles" near the airbase in Gloucestershire.

Five men were initially arrested on suspicion of terror offences near the base and subsequently released on police bail. A sixth man, a UK-Iranian national, was also later arrested and released on bail.

Whitehall sources have not disputed the decision from Washington was in response to the incident at RAF Fairford.

The BBC has also been told it was a military rather than a political decision - taken at an operational level - and communicated from the US military to its British counterparts.

The UK's Ministry of Defence has not commented.

Days after the incident, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said there were "strong indications" that Iran had played a part in the incident but did not provide further details. Tehran has strongly denied any involvement.

Initially, five men aged between 23 and 25 were arrested in the early hours of the morning after vehicles were reported to be travelling towards the base operated by the US Air Force (USAF). All five were UK nationals from London.

They were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and later on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act, before being released on bail in what police called an "investigative decision" that was "grounded in experience and strategy".

The sixth man, aged 25, was arrested in London on Thursday on suspicion of preparation of terrorist acts. Counter terror police confirmed on Saturday he had also been released on bail.

RAF Fairford has been used as a forward operating location by the US Air Force (USAF) for decades.  In recent months, US bombers have taken off from the base for the Middle East, after the UK approved a US request to use it for defensive strikes on Iran.

In July, Iran said "any base used for aggression against Iranian territory constitutes a legitimate target for our forces".

Days after the incident, and before the arrest of the sixth man, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Fox News that it "clearly involve[d] the hands of a foreign actor".  Rubio did not provide further details - saying at the time he was limited on what he could say on air.

US President Donald Trump separately said he was "surprised" the five men had been released on bail.  "We know everything about them, we would not have released them," he said, adding that the UK had worked with the US "very closely" on this.

We're headed out beyond public transport in this discussion - but then this IS `'The West but NOT trains in the West"

Personal thoughts and logic ...
* leaders the world over can gain a domestic "bounce" from an international war. Sometimes one has to wonder if part of the reason for the war being waged in a way and to the degree that it is ... is to get that domestic popularity bounce.
* where a number of countries club / co-operate together in a war, it is only going to be natural for the "enemy" to undertake activities to reduce / harm the effect on the war from / by the stooge countries. Natural but a potentially dangerous escalation. Supply chains have many branches and leaves in the modern world.
* Even at the distance we are from Fairford, we noted a significant increase in heavy aircraft flights going over where we live.  We don't know what they are doing / where they are going and what they are doing when they get there, but we do note that is they are on military missions, they are probably directed by the US Department of War, which is the new name given by the US President to what used to be the Department of Defence.

The B1 bombers from Fairford pass noisily over Frome (at quite low altitude) several times a day. I have read somewhere that they are generally headed SW on exercise over the ocean. However, even when operational in the Middle East the route was way out in the Atlantic, Strait of Gibraltar and Central Mediterranean. Thereafter who knows? No doubt this route is supported by air tankers.

The PM has stated that iran is believed to be involved in the foiled attack at RAF Fairford.
It therefore appears that both russia and iran are waging a hybrid war against the UK .
Future attacks may affect supplies of food, fuel, and utility service. Stock up and be prepared !

Not to be done inside the bunker, though: carbon monoxide and all that. 

Well, you're the one who keeps bringing them up! In a manner of speaking. 

Please, no, not the pickled eggs again! 

The PM has stated that iran is believed to be involved in the foiled attack at RAF Fairford.
It therefore appears that both russia and iran are waging a hybrid war against the UK .
Future attacks may affect supplies of food, fuel, and utility service. Stock up and be prepared !

There's no need: Donald Trump is apparently dealing with it personally.  From the BBC:


CfN.

US President Donald Trump said those arrested were "looking to do big damage", adding: "We had them under view for a long time, and we got them."

A resident, after three suspicious vehicles were seen in the village in the early hours of Sunday morning:

“Evidently, they phoned the airbase police, who didn’t answer the phone,” he said of the person who reported the sighting. “It just rang out so she dialled 999.”

Thousands of Sussex homes without water and roads closed after burst pipe


Areas of Crawley are flooded and about 9,000 homes have water supply issues - Image © Eddie Mitchell

Thousands of homes in parts of West Sussex have water supply issues and a number of roads have flooded after what police are describing as a "significant" leak.

Roads around the Southgate Roundabout in Crawley have been closed on Sunday morning due to the burst water pipe, Sussex Police said.

Southern Water said around 9,000 customers were impacted and it was setting up bottled water stations.  A company spokesperson said: "Our teams are on site and working as quickly and safely as possible to repair the burst and restore supplies."

The company said customers were experiencing a loss of water supply or low pressure in the following areas - Woolborough Road, Holmcroft, Southgate, Tilgate and Furnace Green.  It reported at 12:00 BST that supplies had returned to some homes.

The Southern Water spokesperson added: "Restoring water to customers as quickly as possible remains our highest priority."

John Boulton, who is 82, and his partner are without water.  He said: "It's pretty disgusting, really - we pay so much for the water supply."

Boulton said he had just paid £22 for bottled water in a shop.

(BBC article continues)

Reports are coming in of a "major incident" at RAF Fairford.
Suspects have been detained, and several charged with offences under the explosives act.
A number of residents have been evacuated.

There seems no likelihood of direct consequences for food or fuel supplies, but it another example of the threats that we face, that could have wider consequences.

suggested viewing "The fourth protocol"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fourth_Protocol_(film)

And even a nuclear attack is worth surviving if too close. A basic shelter reduces the radiation dose received to about one thousandth of that in the open.

I’ll ask my usual question.

If it gets bad enough that the sensible choice is to hide in a bunker to survive, then what is the point in surviving the inevitable complete breakdown in society that would greet you when you emerge?

I’ll ask my usual question.

If it gets bad enough that the sensible choice is to hide in a bunker to survive, then what is the point in surviving the inevitable complete breakdown in society that would greet you when you emerge?

A diet of pickled eggs is better than starving.
I would prefer a diet that consists largely of tinned tuna, tined fruit, lifeboat rations and chocolate.
"Doomfood" with a 20+ year shelf life another possibility, though it requires extra water, and means of boiling same.
A paraffin primus stove is safer than LPG in a bunker.

More guidance, from the BBC: