An electrician from Worcester has flown out to the Gulf to prepare for war with Iraq.

Father-of two Steven Jay said he was called for duty in the Territorial Army to form part of the volunteer NHS medic crew, because of his civilian skills.

He said there was a lack of class 1 Royal Engineer electricians in the Army which made him a suitable candidate for the call-up.

With his fellow Territorial Army colleagues, the 33-year-old will help in the treatment of wounded servicemen and women, or prepare more serious casualties for airlifting to the UK for more intensive treatment.

Victims

Twenty-nine NHS hospitals in the UK have been placed on standby to treat returning casualties of any conflict with Iraq.

For many of the TA soldiers who flew to the desert at the weekend, it was their first taste of action in a combat zone.

Surgeons, family doctors, medical orderlies, radiographers, anaethetists, cooks and clerical officers make up the ranks of 202 Field Hospital, one of three makeshift British hospitals near the borders with Iraq.

The only British medical volunteers in the Gulf, Steven's unit formed part of the 2nd Medical Brigade Headquarters, which has two other hospitals in the region, both staffed entirely by Army regulars.

Half the part-timers, known as weekend-warriors, flew out from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, last Thursday and were followed by their colleagues the next day.

Steven said he had tried to explain to his two daughters, Francesca, aged seven, and Madeline, aged five, where "daddy was going."

"I think Francesca understood a little bit about what I was doing but Madeline didn't really know. I really will miss them.

"You always know that you can be called up for duty but it doesn't really bother you until you eventually get the letter through the post.

"I'm feeling quite anxious and there is the element of fear of the unknown. I suppose the best thing is to get out there and see what happens and hope for the best."