A Burnley teacher living in Bahrain says she is on high alert but "staying put" as war intensifies across the Middle East.

Sian Johnson (nee Doherty), and her husband Ian, are bracing themselves as tensions escalate in the region, with missile strikes reported in the last 24 hours.

Mountain rescue teams assist casualty injured during walk near Pendle Hill

The couple live in Saar, a part of the island that has so far escaped direct impact, being some distance from the American air base home, to the Fifth Fleet, which national news reports claim has been severely damaged in an Iranian strike.

Burnley teacher Sian Johnson and her husband Ian live in Bahrain, where they are on 'high alert' as war in the Middle East intensifies. The couple are pictued on their wedding day in October last year

placeholder image — Burnley teacher Sian Johnson and her husband Ian live in Bahrain, where they are on 'high alert' as war in the Middle East intensifies. The couple are pictued on their wedding day in October last year

Despite not being in the immediate line of fire, the newlyweds, who only married in October last year, say there is a constant sense of uncertainty. Alongside friends and neighbours, they are closely monitoring developments as the situation unfolds.

Sian, who grew up in Burnley and attended the former St Hilda’s RC High School for Girls, said: “Many people living near the American base have already been evacuated to this side of the island as it’s already been hit two or three times. A lot are staying with friends in the area where we live or trying to get hotels and apartment accommodation.”

Sian added that many expats were also making a bid to leave the country via the King Fahd Causeway that connects Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and Al Jasra, Bahrain across the Gulf of Bahrain. She added: “They are using the causeway in a bid to get flights from Dammam or Riyadh.”

Sian, who is a learning support teacher with the Bahrain National School, said classes are being conducted online, many shopping malls and restaurants have closed down and people have been told to stay indoors and work from home.

Burnley teacher Sian Johnson and her husband Ian are currently on 'high alert' in their home in Bahrain as war across the Middle East intensifies

Supermarkets remain open but the Government has put out an appeal for residents not to ‘panic’ buy. It has also put a ban on retailers increasing prices. Sian added: “Well done to the Bahrain Government for putting schools online immediately and also for issuing safety guidelines to everyone without hesitation.”

Sian, who told the Burnley Express she could hear explosions during the interview, added: “We have automatic sirens on our phone that go off 24 hours a day and we can hear missiles being intercepted.

“There may be nothing to target here, but if a drone is shot from the sky and comes down in the area that is a major concern as the falling debris sets fire to a lot of buildings.

““The Bahrain Defence Service and fire service have done a tremendous job, working round the clock.”

Newly weds Sian and Ian Johnson, who tied the knot five months ago, have said they are on 'high alert' at their home in Bahrain, but they have vowed to 'stay put' as the Middle East conflict rages on

Sian and Ian, who works as a project manager, are among a group of expats who meet regularly for get togethers at the Dilmun Club and Bahrain Rugby Club on the island, and they are planning to go for a curry night and wine tasting dinner this week.

Sian said: “We can support each other through this while we wait it out. Our lives are here, we have two cats and a dog and wouldn’t dream of leaving them.”