A convoy of lorries was seen heading towards B-52 bombers at RAF Fairford yesterday as the countdown to war in Iraq entered its final hours.

The lorries, with police escort, were visible from the perimeter fence at RAF Fairford, where 14 of the giant US bombers were expected to be loaded with a range of weapons including cruise missiles.

The B-52s are likely to be involved in the first wave of attacks, expected to begin within hours. The deadline for Saddam Hussein to leave the country passed at 1am this morning.

The B-52 Stratofortress is a giant bomber that can fly 8,000 miles and drop an awesome payload, including cruise missiles.

And the thunder-like drone of its eight engines strikes fear into troops below.

The aircraft is capable of dropping 30 tonnes of bombs and missiles three B-52s working in formation can leave a crater one mile square and 50ft deep.

The long range bomber can also fly 8,000 miles (12,872 kilometres) without refuelling.

American B-52 bombers flew 60 missions in 1991 from RAF Fairford, dropping more than 1,158 tonnes of high explosive in sorties against Saddam Hussein's Republican Guard and other key targets in Iraq and Kuwait.

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