Most Fairford residents said they believed it was right for Britain and the US to take action to remove Saddam Hussein.

Mayor Quentin Tailford said: "I would have preferred military action to be sanctioned by a UN resolution, but as that failed, I think it is right to take action. Saddam Hussein must be sorted out.

"It is time to give the Iraqi people a proper life."

He said residents in Fairford had grown used to the fact that they live next to one of Europe's most important military bases. Coun Tailford said: "We know sometimes the base is operational, but people don't loose sleep over it."

Andrew Butler, who runs the butchers in Fairford, said Saddam had been given enough chances to disarm. He said: "Saddam keeps saying he will get rid of weapons of mass destruction, but action speaks louder than words."

Father Richard Barton, of St Thomas of Canterbury Church, lives a quarter of a mile from the base in Horcott.

He said: "It is very sad, and we are all praying for peace.

"It's not a traditional war, Saddam has not invaded another country this time.

"We pray for all the troops and hope they come back safely, and we are praying for the people of Iraq."

Robert Winney, president of Fairford's Royal British Legion branch, said the situation took his mind back to World War II.

He said: "I was 14 when the war finished, and I remember the carnage. Hitler was allowed to build up weapons for five years before 1939. If we had made him disarm earlier we would not have had the war. If Saddam Hussein is allowed to carrying on developing weapons of mass destruction we could be in the same situation."

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