University students made up to look like zombies take part in a bid to break the world record for the "biggest zombie lurch" in Sydney
University students made up to look like zombies take part in a bid to break the world record for the "biggest zombie lurch" in Sydney. REUTERS

Local authorities routinely have detailed emergency plans for natural disasters or man-made atrocities such as terrorist attacks, but Bristol city council seems miles ahead when it comes to security as it has recently unveiled a "top secret" which help prepare for a zombie attack.

The document shows the best way to kill those bothersome reanimated corpses and outlines a four-stage alert system following an invasion and says code words will be used to provide secret instructions to the public.

The document also provides people with advice on how they can equip themselves with weapons, such as stun guns and protective suits.

Bristol city council has set out the advice in response to a Freedom of Information request.

In its 'Contingency Plan For Handling Zombie Outbreaks in Bristol', it says the moment to get really worried is when infections hit 30 per cent - or 'zombie pandemic level'.

At this stage the plan explains it is necessary to know how to kill a zombie correctly the public is reminded to fully disconnect the brain-stem from the body through blunt force or full head removal.

But it might be best just to head for a council building, where somebody might know what to do as 'An annual training schedule for designated officers is in place,' the document adds reassuringly.

A Mr P Store contacted the council wondering what plans have been laid down in case the zombie invasion and rather than ignoring the request or dismissing it, an officer wrote back , in a light-heartedly way and outlined the best ways to tackle zombies and highlighted areas of the city considered high-risk areas.

Peter Holt, service director of communication and marketing, wrote back to Store: "In response to your request for details of Bristol city council's contingency plans for dealing with zombies, I can now release to you the following strategy document.

"Please note that this document contains various redactions as it has been considered that some information contained therein must be redacted for the purpose of safeguarding national security."

Marked top secret, the document, which has been published on the whatdotheyknow.com site, sets out four alert states:

  • Ambient zombie level - business as usual, but be on the lookout for tell-tale signs.
  • Enhanced activity level - confirmed zombie attacks on the populous.
  • Major outbreak - zombie infection level in excess of 1%, multiple sightings across the city.
  • Zombie pandemic level - concentrated outbreak, with infection levels over 30%.

The reports also suggests certain parts of the city, including Whitchurch Park, Shirehampton, and Totterdown, are particularly at risk and adds that "false positives have been found in Stokes Croft", the city's bohemian quarter that was the scene of riots this year after the opening of a new Tesco store.