SERVICE families in North Wiltshire were yesterday waiting anxiously for news as their loved ones in the Gulf prepared for war.

In Kuwait, men and women from 21 Signal Regiment (Air Support), based in Colerne, were contending with sand storms and heavy rain while they readied communication systems.

A total of 200 personnel were deployed from Colerne a month ago, and they have spent the time training and preparing for battle.

The regiment provides communications for the RAF helicopter fleet, ensuring good communication systems exist for voice and data when the pilots are in the air, as well as ground communications.

The Colerne personnel are dotted around in eight to ten different locations, making sure communications are up and running effectively.

Major Mike Burke said morale was good and the regiment had undertaken a lot of work in less than perfect conditions, in a short amount of time.

"They have a sense of purpose," he said. "This is not a training exercise the situation concentrates the mind."

He said political controversy at home would not undermine personnel as the military was apolitical and they would get on with the job.

"It's up to the politicians to sort out," he said.

"We hope the British public will support us, and I trust that they will. The troops never doubted it they have faith in the British people."

His call was echoed by North Wiltshire MP James Gray, who voted in favour of the Government in Tuesday's crutial war vote in The Commons, despite earlier misgivings.

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