Troops face boredom fears

Craydon Burrows served in the Gulf War in 1991

Soldiers from across the North West are making preparations to head out to the Gulf as the prospect of war builds.

Troops from the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers have been preparing Warrior armoured vehicles, which became the army's workhorse during the 1991 Gulf War.

The vehicles are designed to protect soldiers for 48 hours in nuclear, biological or chemical battlefield conditions.

However, while they will face potentially life-threatening conditions if war is declared, veterans of the conflict 12 years ago said boredom can be a big enemy.

I'm ready to go but I don't think my family are. There was crying, my mum was crying

Ben Peel, Royal Fusiliers

Warrior commander Craydon Burrows, from Manchester, and Corporal Adrian Allen, from Bolton, are aware the uncertainty of a war situation makes it difficult.

Mr Burrows, 31, said: "It can be boring and you're always on rations so you're always hungry, plus there's not a lot of sleep.

"And it's stressful because there's no finish date."

He and Mr Allen have both married since the 1991 conflict, which has changed their attitudes to the prospect of war.

Patrick Decourcey (left) and Ben Peel face war for the first time

Mr Allen, 33, said: "It's totally different this time because we are going on exercise.

"But if the situation changes then I'm aware what might be ahead."

More than 300 Warriors were used in the 1991 Gulf War and 150 were ordered to the region earlier this month.

Simon Cooke, from Lancashire, said you often feel like a "sardine" inside them.

Mr Cooke, 28, of Walton-le-Dale, said: "It's not one for claustrophobics, being cramped in one of those for 18 hours."

For Ben Peel, 18, from Warrington, joining the regiment only four months ago meant his mind was more on an emotional parting from his family than the Warriors.

He said: "I'm ready to go but I don't think my family are. There was crying, my mum was crying."