What food items should you stock up on in case of an emergency?

You should aim to take in about 1,500-2,500ml of fluid a day, whatever the weather, says McManamon.

This can obviously come from bottled water, but also from what she describes as fluid rich tinned foods if supplies are short.

For those worried about whether tinned food is as nutritious as fresh food, Dr Gill says it absolutely can be used as part of a healthy diet.

"There is little difference nutritionally between canned and fresh food in terms of macronutrients, like carbohydrates, protein, fats, and fibre, as well as fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin A and E, and minerals," she says.

It may not be as good for other vitamins, such as B and C, because the canning process has been found to decrease vitamin levels, but Gill offers assurances that these foods can still be a "useful source" of vitamins.