diff --git a/views/webpage_home.tpl b/views/webpage_home.tpl
index 393dff2..d923ee1 100644
--- a/views/webpage_home.tpl
+++ b/views/webpage_home.tpl
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 % rebase('webpage_base.tpl')
 
+<!-- todo remove on release -->
+<div class="mt-3">
+<div class="alert alert-warning alert-dismissible fade show" role="alert">
+  <i class="fa-solid fa-triangle-exclamation"></i> <strong>This is a pre-release version of Spothole!</strong> Many features of the user interface have not been completed yet, the API will almost certainly change, and even the URL is not final. Please do not build anything on the Spothole API yet. You can <a href="https://git.ianrenton.com/ian/spothole/issues" class="alert-link">check the list of outstanding features here</a>. There are contact details on <a href="https://ianrenton.com/" class="alert-link">my website</a> if you need to get in touch. There is no timescale to complete it as it's just a hobby project, but it's open source so feel free to contribute!<br/>QRX QRX DE M0TRT SK :)
+  <button type="button" class="btn-close" data-bs-dismiss="alert" aria-label="Close"></button>
+</div>
+</div>
+
 <div class="mt-3">
     <div class="row">
         <div class="col-auto me-auto pt-3">