PORTON Down scientists are working on the ultimate vaccine as part on the on-going war against weapons of mass destruction.

It is a world beating new all-in-one vaccine that will protect people against attack from several different biological agents.

Dr Di Williamson, the centre's group leader in microbiology, said: "It would be ideal if we could have one vaccine for several different agents, and research is going on to develop it at the moment.

"It would be the ultimate vaccine and we are making strides towards achieving it, but it is going to take ten years or more to develop."

Meanwhile the threat of terrorism means that the pioneering work the Wilt-shire scientists are carrying out on vaccines has never been more important.

Britain and her allies must be prepared for the possibility of a biological or chemical attack.

It seems certain now, following publication of a Government dossier, that Iraq's Saddam Hussein has access to weapons of mass destruction, and terrorist groups have proved they have the ability to launch a strike anywhere in the world.

Six people died recently from an anthrax attack in America and the FBI turned to Porton Down for help.

Now the centre is on the verge of producing a new and better anthrax vaccine.

Dr Williamson said: "We are here to develop effective counter measures against just this sort of threat to both the military and civilians.

"Our work includes a major research programme for vaccines that can be given well in advance, and to people who have already been exposed to something like a terrorist attack.

"Anthrax has already been used in America and it caused a lot of fear and panic, and the threat of it being used is at the back of our minds.

"We have to make sure we have enough vaccine.

"An existing vaccine is still in use for anthrax, but now we are looking at a new vaccine that is more effective and safer to use.

"It is about to go on early clinical trials and when it is licensed in the next five years it can be produced easily and in bulk.

But Dr Williamson stressed: "This is not to say the existing vaccine is not sufficient."

The scientists have also been working for the past ten years to find a new vaccine to fight plague which is endemic in many parts of the world including Africa and Asia and even in parts of the USA.

Shee said: "There is only one plague vaccine in the world at the moment and that is made in Australia.

"It does not protect very well against the inhaled form of plague and that is what we are developing."

There are two main phases for testing the new vaccine before it is licensed and the first one has already been successfully completed.