A REGISTER office is offering to open its doors for longer to allow servicemen and women to marry before a possible conflict in the Gulf.

Staff at Darlington's Register Office have announced that they are willing to conduct wedding services out of hours for people who might be called up to fight in Iraq.

However, a spokeswoman for Darlington Borough Council, which is responsible for the office, stressed that the extra service would only be available in special circumstances.

She said: "We have a number of inquiries from service personnel about getting married as soon as possible.

"Our staff are willing to make themselves available out of usual business hours if necessary to conduct wedding services in these unusual circumstances."

In Catterick, North Yorkshire, where the register office serves Europe's largest Army garrison, a spokesman confirmed that servicemen and women could have a ceremony out of hours if necessary.

He said: "We reorganised our opening times about six months ago and brought new times in.

"Under the new rules, we will look at arranging a service for anyone at anytime if it is possible, whether they are in the service or not."