soldiers could find themselves seeing double when identical twins Claire and Stephanie Butler take their places among Britain's armed forces in the Gulf.

Last week, the 31-year-old Newcastle nurses were called up and arrived at Chetwynd barracks, near Nottingham, this week to undergo mobilization before being sent abroad.

Both have been members of the Territorial Army (TA) for the past four years.

Claire, a nurse at Newcastle General Hospital, said. "I've always thought about the possibility of being called up.

"You've always got to be open to that when you join the TA, but it's what we've all been trained for and we've been out on exercises before.

"Now I just want to get down and do the job we've been trained for."

The sisters, who are originally from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, were skiing with the TA in Aviemore, Scotland, when their call-up papers arrived a week ago.

Stephanie, a nurse at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary said she was nervous but ready for action.

She said. "It's more the fear of the unknown, but we are already settling in well.

"You see people you know from your unit back home, and there's a great camaraderie.

"I joined the TA for the adventure and to work as part of a team, and I am proud to be here."

The twins do not know where in the Gulf they will be posted but they hope to be stationed together.

Clare said: 'We went to Oman on exercise before and were working in the same hospital. We worked really well together.

"We're an excellent team and look after each other."

Staff at Chetwynd barracks are processing 200 reservists a day and will have mobilised 3,500 personnel.

Reservists and TA soldiers provide key specialists such as engineers and medical personnel. They also perform functions such as communications.

Before being deployed they go through a five-stage mobilization process which includes registration, being issued with kit and equipment, medical and dental checks, vaccinations and training.

Their training includes handling rifles and other weapons, and learning how to deal with nuclear, chemical and biological hazards.

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Kellett, who is responsible for processing reservists at Chetwynd barracks, said. "They may feel slightly apprehensive, but they are here to do a job, they have been trained to do a job, and they just want to get on and do that."

At the end of the process he will join all the reservists in the Gulf and will then plan for their demobilisation once any conflict with Iraq is over.