With the threat of an American-led war against Iraq continuing to accelerate, it has emerged that there are no immediate plans to move the King's Own Royal Border Regiment from its garrison on the holiday island of Cyprus, reports Karen Barden.

The Government this week announced the largest deployment of military to the Gulf since the last crisis in 1991 and orders to secure the first tranche of around 1,500 reservists are about to be issued.

Following Tuesday's announcement, James Gaskin, the Army's North West press officer, told the Gazette that Cumbria and Lancaster's Territorial Army was unlikely to be enlisted in any significant numbers.

But he said some individuals, such as medics, chefs, mechanics and drivers, could be used.

"People will not know for a few days yet and obviously the situation could change completely," he said.

Four hundred members of the First Battalion of the KORBR are due to return from their posting in Cyprus some time this year and are not likely to be put on red-alert, added the press officer. "At the moment, we are not committed to going to war. Certain troops are more likely to be deployed than others and I am not aware of KORBR being in the frame."

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Collins called for a "full, clear and democratic vote" on the issue in the House of Commons.

"The matter is simply too important to be decided by Tony Blair alone," he said.

"Our thoughts and prayers will be with all the British Armed Forces personnel who may be asked to risk their lives in the coming weeks and moNTHS.

"We must hope for a peaceful resolution to the Iraqi crisis and there remains hope that this can be resolved without the use of force."

Liberal Democrat Prospective Parliamentary candidate Tim Farron hit out against conflict.

"War against Iraq will lead to the deaths of countless civilians, as well as British soldiers, and will simply play into the hands of international terrorists, who will find millions of new sympathisers throughout the developing world."

He said he was not a pacifist, and recognised that some times military action or the threat of it - was necessary.

But he said the government's belligerent strategy of slavishly following George Bush's line would do more harm than good.

January 10, 2003 09:30