THE minesweeper HMS Ledbury has arrived off the coast of Iraq as part of a military build-up of forces in the Gulf.

The Ministry of Defence said yesterday (Thursday) that the Royal Navy flotilla, led by the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, has passed through the Straits of Hormuz and arrived off Iraq.

A spokesman said the flotilla was in place "as a prudent precaution" as the Iraq crisis develops.

Meanwhile, a number of peace campaigners from Ledbury are set to attend the anti-war rally in London tomorrow.

Sheila and John Burns have been organising a small group of like-minded protesters, who will be travelling down to the capital by car for the mass demonstration.

Mr Burns said: "We feel it's getting close to stand up and be counted time."

Mr and Mrs Burns are no strangers to campaigning. Mrs Burns is the sister-in-law of the disabled charity worker, Ian Stillman, who was released from an Indian prison in December, on humanitarian grounds, after being convicted of alleged drug offences.

Mrs Burns, who until recently ran the Ledbury Wholefoods shop in The Homend, always believed in Mr Stillman's innocence and organised a 1,500-signature petition for his release.

Next Thursday, a Forest of Dean District Council meeting will be asked to pass a motion put forward by Coun Dave Wheeler "deploring the stance of the British and American governments"