The skies over North Yorkshire could be quieter by the end of the week with RAF Tornados based at Leeming put on standby for war in the Gulf.

There was only a single sleek silhouette on the concrete pan beneath the control tower at RAF Leeming this morning.

Armed with missiles, but not yet fitted with long-range fuel tanks, the Tornado F3 lurking in the morning fog still looked poised for flight, even with the canopy raised the Pegasus engines silent.

But, in hangers around the base, there was evidence enough that personnel from both 25 and 11 Squadron are getting ready to fight, even though the mist seemed to be shielding those preparations from inquisitive eyes.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced Britain would be committing 100 fixed-wing aircraft to the Gulf last week - and it seems a safe bet that Leeming crews will be among them.

Elements of 25 Squadron only returned from a four-month tour of duty patrolling the No Fly Zone over southern Iraq on Saturday and are therefore well acquainted with the conditions and the enemy they are likely to encounter.

Meanwhile, home-based F3s have been acting out battle scenarios in the skies over the UK, using Hawks from Leeming's 100 Squadron as enemy as well as other aircraft from bases in Britain.

But, yesterday, acting station boss Wing Commander Andy Huggett would only emphasise the fact that the base is on standby.

''We don't know for sure if we're going or not,'' he said. ''Both 25 and 11 are among the squadrons which could respond but we can do no more than wait for confirmation.

''Morale is high; in fact, I know there are some who are hoping they will be asked to deploy. Obviously, we accept families are going to be anxious but, at the moment, we can only wait.'' Tornado F3s are also based at Coningsby in Lincolnshire and Leuchars in Scotland. However, Wing Cdr Huggett confirmed some from Leeming are already missing loved ones, with over 160 RAF personnel from the North Yorkshire base already in the Middle East - including the station commander, Group Captain Brian Bates.

Wing Cmdr Huggett said operational security prevented him from elaborating on his superior's role.

However, he confirmed the other service men and women who flew out recently are either members of 34 Squadron, RAF Regiment - trained to defend air bases during a conflict - or cooks, administration officers and engineers.

''We expect to know more Leeming's role, possibly by the end of the week - but, in the meantime, we can only look at the threats and continue to train accordingly,'' he added. .