And then there was light... Doomsday preppers spark 1,200% surge in torch and battery sales in response to UK Government's Be Ready campaign

Sales of torches have surged a massive 1,200 per cent as Brits prepare for doomsday. A scramble for spare batteries in preparation for a national or global crisis have also seen a boost in demand of over 400 per cent. It comes after the UK Government launched a campaign warning people to be prepared for the growing likelihood of blackouts caused by cyberattacks, extreme storms and other major incidents. The campaign follows warnings from military chiefs over the threat of war posed by Russia and global conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.So-called doomsday preppers have already boosted sales for tinned foods, bottled water, wind-up radios and power banks.Electronic manufacturers have now reported a 20-fold surge in orders for emergency lighting since the Be Ready campaign launched last month. Since the release of the National Resilience checklist, lantern sales have skyrocketed over 1,000 per cent and spare batteries are up 408 per cent. In October, the German portable lighting company Ledlenser saw sales of its own-brand battery-powered lighting products surge nearly 200 per cent compared to the previous month. Demand for its LED lanterns, which can provide up to 80 hours of light and are powerful enough to illuminate a whole room, has also gone up by 1,200 per cent. LED hand torches, rechargeable head torches and spare batteries also spiked in demand by over 300 per cent. Since the release of the National Resilience checklist, lantern sales have skyrocketed over 1,000% and spare batteries are up 408% Ledlendser says that the ML6 Rechargeable lantern has been one of its most popular products since the launch of the 'Be Ready' campaign by the government last month The company's own-brand LED hand torches, rechargeable head torches and spare batteries also spiked in demandThe electronics brand said it has seen a definitive shift towards battery-operated products in the wake of the government's Be Ready campaign, with customers often adding multiple backup batteries to their orders.Head of e-commerce at Ledlenser Jennifer Tully told the Daily Mail: 'We definitely saw a giant boost in the middle of October, very specifically around battery-operated handheld torches and lanterns. 'One of our best-selling products at the moment is called the ML6 lantern and we've seen demand for the product increase by almost 330 per cent year on year. 'So it's just been extremely unexpected for the predictions and forecasts of sales stock that we have, especially at this time of year, pre-Black Friday sales.'Ms Tully added: 'I think everybody definitely wants to be quite prepared.'I find a lot of people would lean towards being prepared as we shift in seasonality to the winter.'But now their priority also includes having something they can use in the case of an emergency if the electricity goes out. 'So we're fitting the bill pretty easily in terms of people's search terms right now.' Demand for stockpiled goods, including bottled water and non-perishable food, has also skyrocketed since Defence Secretary Wes Streeting launched the 'national resilience conversation' on October 22. Mr Streeting asked Britons to be prepared for disruption caused by national disasters or cyber attacks from hostile states. The Government's advice urged households to keep an emergency kit prepared, including three days' worth of non-perishable food and bottled water, as well as blankets, an FM radio and power banks. In the ten days after the announcement, hand sanitiser sales rose 83 per cent compared to the same period last year, while bottled water sales rose 67 per cent, according to retail figures released today. The number of people purchasing tinned meat since the start of the campaign also rose by 43 per cent – equivalent to an extra 400,000 shoppers snapping up the product each day. Jim Bligh, Director of Food Policy at the British Retail Consortium, told the Daily Mail: 'While some retailers have seen a small uptick in sales of some products, food availability remains strong, and retailers remain well stocked with all essential products.' Warnings to stockpile essentials have also been made by governments across Europe, Asia and North America amid heightened global tensions. Have you got the apocalypse covered? Tell us what's in your survival kit at emily.driver@dailymail.co.uk Emergency stockpile list Source: New South Wales government This list should only be used as a guide for items that may assist in an emergency situation and should be customised to meet your individual household needs.It is suggested that households should hold a sufficient supply of food, water and essential items to enable a household to be confined at home for up to 14 days.Food supplies should be continually used and replenished.Ensure food is rotated, and use-by dates are checked regularly.Ready-to-eat canned/bottled food• Meat• Fish• Fruit• Juice• Vegetables• Soup• Pasta sauceDried and long-life food• Ready-to-eat meals• Breakfast cereal• Flour/bread• Milk powder/UHT milk• Soup mix• Dried vegetables• Rice and pasta• Long-life cheeses• Tea/coffee/drinking chocolate• SugarSnack food• Dried fruits• Nuts• Biscuits• Spreads• Crackers• Snack barsDrinks• Bottled water (3 litres per person per day)• Water sterilising tablets• Concentrated juices/sports drinksBaby supplies• Baby food/baby formula• Nappies and wipesPet food• Pet food (canned/dry)Toiletries/cleaning products• Toilet rolls• Soap and shampoo• Feminine hygiene products• Rubbish bags• Tissues and paper towels• House and laundry cleaning/disinfectant productsEmergency power supply backup• Batteries• Portable radio• Manual can opener• Torch, candles and matchesHealth supplies• First aid kit• Adult and children analgesics/pain killers• Face masks• Protective gloves• Thermometer• Alcohol-based handwash/gels/wipesOther items• Prescribed medications• Other preferred household supplies