MARCH 4: FOURTEEN American B-52 bombers, which will be used in any war against Iraq, were in place at RAF Fairford today.

The B-52s belong to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota and more could be sent if a bombing campaign gets underway.

The giant planes arrived amidst heavy security from police forces including officers from Gloucestershire and the Ministry of Defence.

They were also greeted by a small but determined group of banner-waving peace activists who were camped next to one of the base's crash gates.

They remained at the base last night.

Nick Barry, 25, a university student from Cardiff was one of three protesters who saw the aircraft land. He said: "It is really worrying that Bush is using us again as a base to launch these attacks. He is a madman and I hope that Blair has the sense to try and stop any war."

First designed as a bomber to destroy Soviet cities with atomic bombs, the B-52 was used in Vietnam, the first Gulf War in 1991 and more recently over Kosovo and Serbia in 1999 and over Afghanistan in 2002.

It is believed that the Fairford-based B-52s will be used to carry cruise missiles each B-52 can carry 12 such weapons.

The past three days at Fairford has seen the arrival of four U-2 spyplanes, thought to be en route to the Middle East from their base in California.

The base also saw the arrival of a number of C-17 transport aircraft carrying equipment and weapons.