The first wave of Territorial Army soldiers from the region are preparing to leave their family and friends for possible deployment in the Gulf.

More than 30 engineers based in the Aycliffe Armoury in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, are being mobilised as part of the UK's military preparations for a possible war against Iraq.

The part-time soldiers from 102 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers leave shortly for the Reserve Training and Mobilisation Centre at Chilwell, Nottingham, before possible deployment in a theatre of war.

For most the call up has led to a mixture of emotions of pride, apprehension and fear.

Corporal George Futers, 45, from Spennymoor, will be leaving behind his wife of 27-years, Dawn. He also has two grown-up children and will miss the birth of his fifth grandson.

Cpl Futers, who is trained to recover vehicles, said: "I didn't believe it at first until I actually got the papers, that's when the worry set in, especially for my wife - she cried for two days.

"It's really difficult getting round and telling everybody that you are going and you don't know when you're coming back or even if you're coming back."

A coach builder for Go-Ahead Northern in Bishop Auckland, he added: "It's going to be a frightening experience, but we train hard all year round to do this job."

Cpl Denise Wingfield, of Howden-le-Wear, near Crook, said she knew what it meant as soon as the brown envelope land on her doormat.

The 30-year-old, who lives with partner Mick Payne, said: "At first I was upset that I'd got it, but it's just a case of coming to terms with it."

A stock controller at Wilsonart in Shildon, she added: "I don't really know what to expect. We've got training to do, but we'll just have to take it as it comes."

Sergeant Stuart Scott, a regular for 22 years before joining the TA last year, is a veteran of two tours of Bosnia and is hoping he will be able to pass on his experience to others.

A father of two girls, Hollie, 17, and 14-year-old Shelley, he will be leaving them behind with his wife Susan in Peterlee.

He said: "I'd be lying if I said there wasn't any apprehension and there's a little bit of worry there."