Ministers have been accused of lecturing families on what to keep in their cupboards in case of a national emergency.

The Government is urging households to stockpile bottled water, tinned food, cash and loo roll in a campaign to be prepared for a potential major crisis caused by extreme weather or cyber attack.

Its Be Ready guide recommends keeping nine litres of drinking water per person in case mains supplies are knocked out or shops closed for as long as three days, along with meat, vegetables and fruit that can be eaten without being cooked or refrigerated.

Read more: Nanny Burnham won’t spend more on defence but is wasting a fortune lecturing us on stockpiling tins, water, loo roll and a wind-up radio in case of a national emergency