Tony Blair paid tribute to the actions of British servicemen and women fighting in the Gulf as news of the first British casualties broke today.

Eight marines were killed when an American helicopter they were traveling in crashed in Kuwait.

Defence officials said the chopper had been returning the soldiers from an operation inside Iraq. It seems the crash was an accident and not the result of Iraqi anti-aircraft fire.

Speaking at the EU summit in Brussels today the Prime Minister said the servicemen who died in the helicopter crash were ''brave men'' who gave their lives to build a ''safer and more secure'' world.

Mr Blair said France had expressed its condolences over the deaths of the British personnel, with President Jacques Chirac writing a personal note to him about the tragedy.

As he spoke British marines were advancing on Iraq's second city - the oil port of Basra - after securing a bridgehead established overnight.

Meanwhile an American armoured column was racing deep into enemy territory.

The US 7th Cavalry Regiment is in the vanguard of the attack on Iraq, scouting the way ahead for others to follow, and spotting potential dangers.

But it has so far rolled virtually unopposed through the sparsely populated deserts of southern Iraq.

Following US attack helicopters are the M1A1 battle tanks, nicknamed the Combat Cadillac, and Bradley Fighting Vehicles.

In another development the giant B52 bombers have taken off from RAF Fairford increasing speculation that the much heralded "shock and awe" bombing campaign is now underway.

The jets, which can carry up to 30 tons of bombs, took off with a deafening roar and soon disappeared into the morning mist.

Within 30 minutes, eight of the 14 bombers had left RAF Fairford, where they have been based since early March.

The plane first entered service with the United States Air Force in 1955 and established its fearful reputation with carpet bombing raids during the Vietnam War.

More recently, it has seen service in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Yugoslavia.

The bombers took off as a US Black Hawk helicopter circled overhead.

Earlier this morning a Greenpeace balloon flew over the base dropping around 5,000 peace leaflets.

21/03/2003