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With uncertainty looming and anxiety running high following recent events in Iran, it is essential to be aware of the recommended precautions for protecting yourself at home in the UK, even if the prospect of a worst-case scenario remains highly unlikely.

The British Government advocates a three-step protocol in the event of a nuclear incident on UK soil - go in, stay in, tune in.

Should a radiation emergency occur, there are several straightforward measures you can put in place to ensure maximum safety for yourself and those around you.

The 'go in' directive means that should you learn of a radiation emergency nearby, you must head indoors without delay.

To maximise your protection, ensure all windows and doors are firmly shut, and position yourself as far from exterior walls as possible, reports Wales Online.

The safest spot is in the centre of the building, well away from external doors, windows and walls. This approach helps to "avoid exposure from any radioactive material that has collected on the outside of the building."

According to gov.uk, remaining indoors substantially reduces your exposure to radiation.

Once inside, you should switch off all fans and air conditioning systems, seal all exits and windows, and cover any air vents.

Should you be instructed to shelter at home, you may need to remain indoors for as long as one or two days.

The Government encourages people to 'tune in', meaning they should stay informed by monitoring trusted news outlets and adhering to official UK Government guidance on the necessary actions to take.

Information can be gathered via television, radio, online sources, social media platforms, or through direct communications from the police.

A nuclear attack would instantly trigger a radiation emergency due to the release of radioactive substances, with people potentially facing exposure through several routes.

According to the Government website: "Breathing in radioactive materials. Direct exposure to radioactive material carried in the air and deposited on surfaces, clothing or skin. Eating or drinking food or water contaminated with radioactive materials."

While taking preventative measures is vital, finding yourself within the immediate blast zone of a nuclear explosion leaves virtually no chance of survival.

The extreme heat would instantaneously vaporise human tissue, while those situated further away could still face a prolonged and agonising death from radiation poisoning.

Acute Radiation Syndrome is the unavoidable outcome of such exposure, with survivors of the initial blast potentially suffering from nausea, vomiting, headaches and catastrophic multi-organ failure - conditions that would ordinarily prove fatal within days or weeks.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament website states: "If a nuclear bomb were detonated, the heart of the nuclear explosion would reach a temperature of several million degrees centigrade. The resulting heat flash would literally vaporise all human tissue over a wide area.

"At Hiroshima, within a radius of half a mile, the only remains of most of the people caught in the open were their shadows burnt into stone."

Experts suggest that surviving a significant nuclear strike and steering clear of lethal radiation exposure would necessitate being a minimum of 10 to 20 miles from the point of detonation.

To illustrate this, should a strike hit central London, areas including St Albans, Brentwood and Windsor would likely experience considerably reduced levels of radiation exposure.