I remember waking up to the terrifying news that radiation detected in the atmosphere over night was indicative of a serious fault at our regional nuclear power plant.
In fact, it's was detecting the fall-out from the reactor meltdown at Chernobyl, 900 miles away (not in the UK). Particles of radioactive dust, having risen into the sky and blown far and wide, crossing 3 national borders, was already raining down on our coastline -on the beaches, woodlands, school playgrounds, farmers' fields, our football pitch, gardens and allotments.
The Geiger-counters were telling an alarming tale and the source of the radioactivity was a mystery until the truth became known. But knowing the provenance of the particles which were to impact every part of our lives made little difference: we were still severely restricted in order to keep safe, and things which we had taken for granted were now off limits: avoiding outdoor play, no foraging and no hunting (both significant lifestyle features and sustenance options of the region where I grew up). For years after the incident, crops, livestock, game, fungi, fruits and berries were taken to measuring stations to be put through the counters to ascertain whether the radiation levels had dropped sufficiently to be deemed safe for human consumption. Elderly couples arriving with pails of garden produce, women bringing baskets of fungi, queuing up for assessment.
We're coming up to the anniversary now, and it is still very relevant.