A flu pandemic NOT TERROR is our biggest threat, says Brown

It could kill 750,000 people and spread to this country at record speed, he told MPs.

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The first-ever national security strategy, published yesterday after several months' delay, claimed the Government had drawn up plans for dealing with such a huge death toll, as well as other potential national emergencies such as terror strikes, extreme flooding, cyber-attacks and climate change.

It proposed creating a modern-day Dad's Army of volunteers to deal with a flu pandemic, evacuate the elderly in the event of a flood or help in the aftermath of a terrorist attack.

The new "civil defence network" would be modelled on the ARPs, who patrolled the streets during World War Two bombing raids.

A separate 1,000-strong civilian force, made up of emergency service workers and judges, is to be created to assist failing states and help rebuild countries emerging from conflict.

A "register of risks" – a regularly updated assessment of the dangers facing Britain – is also to be published.

The Cabinet Office strategy report said that would enable communities to "prepare better" for potential disasters.

A large section of the report conceded that Britain faces a "serious and sustained" threat from al-Qaeda and other suicide bombers and others prepared to use chemical, biological and nuclear weapons in the name of Islam.

But it concluded that a flu pandemic posed a graver danger. The Government is to work with international health bodies on early warning systems and preparing vaccines ahead of an outbreak.

Mass graves, inflatable mortuaries, 24-hour cremations and "express" funerals could all be used.

Normally, the influenza virus kills about 12,000 in Britain, most of them elderly. But history shows that the flu virus can mutate into a new strain that is resistant to existing drugs.

Most famously, the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 killed 228,000 in the UK and up to 40million worldwide.

Experts say a pandemic is overdue, either from the mutation of the normal human flu virus, or of bird flu.

The second highest threat identified by the report was coastal flooding on a scale that last took place on the east coast in 1953, killing 300.

"Even with today's improved defences, a repeat of coastal or tidal flooding on that scale could result in the flooding of hundreds of thousands of properties, and the need to evacuate and shelter hundreds of thousands of people," the report said.

It also predicted that energy could be one of the biggest causes of conflict in coming decades, with demand set to increase 50 per cent by 2030.

Mr Brown told MPs threats to Britain had "changed out of all recognition" in recent years.

"Our new approach to security also means improved local resilience against emergencies, building and strengthening capacity to respond effectively in circumstances from floods to terrorism," he said.

"Not the old Cold War idea of civil defence but a new form that combines expert preparedness for emergencies with greater local engagement of individuals."

Mr Brown announced that the number of security service staff is to rise to 4,000 and four regional counter-terrorism units and four regional intelligence units are to be set up to help the police.

New measures would also be published next month to boost the way schools, universities and prisons work to disrupt radicalisation in their midst, he said.

A new National Security Forum featuring up to 30 experts from academia and other areas will advise another body set up last summer, the National Security Committee.

Mr Brown also promised greater transparency in the work of the Intelligence and Security Committee, a Parliamentary body which oversees the security services.

Tory leader David Cameron said Mr Brown's statement "sounded more like a list than a strategy".