Text messages warning people of terror attacks will be sent direct to their mobile phones.

The City Alert Texting System (CATS) is available to mobile phone users in Brighton and Hove from today and will send advice on how to deal with serious emergencies.

The system has been designed to deal with incidents such as severe weather, flooding and large-scale fires but would also be used in bombings.

Free messages will be sent by the city council's emergency planning unit.

Senior officials are already signed up to the system, which has not yet been used, but now members of the public can also subscribe.

The first 1,000 people to apply will have free access for a year.

The service would normally cost £1.50 for each postcode covered.

Council leader Ken Bodfish said: "This service would be extremely useful in the event of a terrorist attack.

"The council would have to make use of all the technology at its disposal to inform people in the event of a serious incident.

"We are no more likely to get an emergency here than anywhere else but it's reassuring to know we've got a decent communications system in place if one happens."

The service is being provided by Worcestershire-based firm Eazytext, which was set up with Government funding.

Manager Nick Seller said: "We would hope a terrorist attack would never happen but in the event it did, it would be very useful to be able to contact as many people as possible.

"After the Madrid bombing the Spanish Prime Minister went on television to ask for volunteers, doctors and blood donors but at that time communications were very difficult.

"This system could be used to inform people, ask for help and provide them with an information number which would steer hundreds of people away from calling the emergency services."

The service has won the support of Sussex Police, which runs a missing child text alert system, and senior officers would contact the council to discuss messages being sent out.

Inspector Steve Barry said: "We endorse any movement to use technology in our fight against crime and improving public safety.

"This could be used to reassure people when there is an incident which turns out not to be a terrorist attack.

"It is always useful when people are properly informed about what is really going on."

The technology behind the text system could also be used by the council for crowd control at large events.

The new emergency text service can be activated by texting CATS and the required postcode to 89080.

The actual warning messages would be free.

Postcodes for workplaces and homes can be nominated and, depending on the scale of the emergency, messages will be sent for the surrounding region.