The Security Service MI5 will announce tomorrow that subscribers to its website can sign up for email notification of changes to the current threat level.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: "There will be two electronic lists, one for people interested in updates to the threat level and one for changes and updates to the website. This aims to improve public understanding of the service's work and to offer faster information about threat levels." Anyone can sign up to the lists.

The level is currently "severe", Home Secretary John Reid said in early December that the chances of attack over Christmas was "highly likely"

There's more on how scared you should be here but sensitive readers should be warned the page contains a picture of John Reid.

The site also puts to rest the myth that MI5 only recruits people who are shorter than 5'11". In fact only mobile surveillance staff have to be shorter than 5'11".

More myths laid to rest here.®

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