THE first group 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, in Chilwell, Nottingham, before possible deployment in a theatre of war.

For most, the call-up has led to a mixture 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 did not believe it at first until I actually got the papers, that is when the worry set in, especially for my wife - she cried for two days.

"It is really difficult getting around and telling everybody that you are going and you do not know when you are coming back or even if you are coming back."

The coach builder for Go-Ahead Northern, in Bishop Auckland, said: "It is going to be a frightening experience, but we train hard all year-round to do this job."

Corporal Denise Wingfield, of Howden-le-Wear, near Crook, said she knew what it meant as soon as the brown envelope arrived at her home.

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

Cpl Wingfield, a stock controller at Wilsonart, in Shildon, said: "I do not really know what to expect.

"We have got training to do, but we will just have to take it as it comes."

Sergeant Stuart Scott, a regular for 22 years before he joined 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 would be lying if I said there was not any apprehension and there is a little bit of worry there."