David Harper

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A massive power cut hit Spain and Portugal.

The blackout caused chaos, crippling transport systems.

Queues soon formed in front of ATMs as once again cash became the... People are left sitting at home with no food or water and no way of getting information about what to do.

In the last few years we've seen major conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, a major power cut in Spain and Portugal and the Covid pandemic across the world make people feel that bit less secure.

Ordinary citizens now see the benefit of keeping a reserve of supplies and tools on hand, and that's given a big boost to some businesses.

So has being a prepper now become mainstream, and with some seriously expensive products being sold for doomsday, has it become survival of the richest?

Well, where better to find out than in the middle of nowhere?

In a forest deep in the middle of Wales, I caught up with Tom Blakey.

He's a survival expert and an instructor on the UK's only Bugout course, a term used by those in the know for surviving out in the open if things have turned bad and you can't stay at home.

Just explain to me for a moment the concept of bugging out.

Have you seen interest growing in this lately?

Is there anything in particular that has spurred people on to want to do this?

And Tom's courses aren't the only reason you might want to head into this hidden patch of mid-Wales.

If you're serious about being ready for anything, you'll want to head to the Bugout Shop too.

They've got everything you need to ride out Armageddon, whatever your budget.

Tell us a little bit more about the survival and preparedness market.

What sort of things do people buy if they're interested in that?

We've been looking at how this has come from being a very specialist thing more into the mainstream.

Have you seen a change in the sort of people that come here?