NORTH-EAST squaddies are digging in ahead of any military assault on Osama bin Laden's stronghold in Afghanistan.

Thousands of British troops are massing in Oman preparing for the biggest UK military exercise since the Gulf war, ten years ago.

After America, the force represents the largest concentration of Allied firepower in the Middle East.

Military experts agree the British task force would almost certainly be called upon in the event of a strike against terrorists.

The Saif Sareea II exercise was due to start in the next few weeks and would have seen British forces working with Omani forces.

Now the exact nature of the work to be carried out by the British forces is in doubt, while the international reaction to the American atrocities is decided.

Among the 22,000 servicemen and women are Lance Corporal Jamie Lough and Sapper Phil Moore, both of 28 Engineer Regiment, The Corps of Royal Engineers.

Jamie, 22, a crane operator and Phil, 23, a driver, did not know each other before they joined up but are now firm friends and see each other when they return to the North-East.

Jamie, whose parents live in Darlington, said: "I'm doing crane operating out here which is my normal job.

"I knew it was going to be hot and it was difficult at first, but we are used to it now."

Phil, a former pupil at Grangefield School, in Stockton, joined the Army in 1996 and has already served around the world.

Also in the area is Corporal Wayne Schnable, of the Royal Logistics Corps, who has been working since May to prepare the site for the other soldiers, unaware that he may be part of an impending war.

Wayne, 34, from Bishop Auckland, said: "When I first got here it was really hot and it took a couple of weeks to get used to it.

"I've been on lots of tours before, so I knew what to expect."

Lance Corporal John Scollen and Lance Corporal Simon Pemberton, 21, of Darlington, are also waiting to find out what their role in the conflict will be.

John, from Peterlee, is married to Tina and they have five-year-old twins Liam and Katie.

The troops from the region had expected to be in Oman until November but, with the future of the international situation in doubt, it is not known if they will be back for Christmas.