ARMY reservists from the Canterbury-based 3rd Battalion Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment have been placed on a state of high alert for possible call-up for war against Iraq.

The Territorials, based at the Leros Barracks in the city's Sturry Road, were in full training this week in readiness for possible involvement in the Gulf.

But the local TA soldiers are not among the 1,500 Army reservists that Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told the House of Commons on Tuesday would be joining a significant amphibious task force for possible duty alongside American forces.

That contingent will include medics, signallers and other specialist field back-up, which does not include those under training in Canterbury.

But a situation that is changing day by day in the theatre of possible operation demands that TA personnel on duty at Leros are on a war footing ready for instant call-up should their services be required in the Middle East.

An Army spokesman at Shorncliffe barracks, near Folkestone, declined to detail the specific TA units involved. He said: "We are not saying where they are coming from or who they are."

Continuing uncertainty over the scale of Britain's contribution to any US-led operations in Iraq leaves a question mark over any possible involvement by Kent's reservists in the military build-up.

The 40,000-strong TA makes up a quarter of the total strength of the British Army.

MANY of Kent's nurses and doctors could be in military fatigues within the next fortnight after being called up by Army chiefs in readiness for a military strike.

A number of the 100-strong Territorial Army Medical Squadron based in London Road, Ditton, are understood to be among the 1,500 reserve force volunteers mobilised by Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon on Tuesday.

Those selected have just 14 days to put their affairs in order before attending an Army mobilisation centre from where they will be sent to the Gulf, if necessary, as part of a military task force.

The Government is expected to make further announcements on reserve force conscription in the coming weeks, despite its insistence that war is not yet inevitable.

The Ministry of Defence has refused to confirm which contingents - full time or reserve - are being prepared for front-line action. But they are expected to include the 36 Royal Engineers from Invicta Barracks, Maidstone, where 600 soldiers are currently based.

Army spokesman Paul Beard said: "No decision has yet been taken about what units, if any, will be involved. Mr Hoon has called up 1,500 reservists from across the UK with specialists skills including medics and signallers. There will be others called up in the coming weeks.

"No approach has been made to Ditton's Medical Squadron at the moment, but it is possible that the nurses, doctors and so on who belong to it have been contacted individually."

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust confirmed that a "handful" of staff had sought leave for military service.

A HAIRDRESSER is confronting coming face to face with biological and chemical warfare in Iraq. Christopher Burn, 30, who works at Barries Hair Stylist in Whitstable High Street, is an Army reservist with the Royal Army Medical Corps.

He heard about the possible call-up of reservists via the media, but said he had been expecting the conflict since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.

"I've just got to wait and see what happens next," he said. "But I'm expecting to have to deal with chemical and biological warfare, which means we will have to decontaminate people before we treat them. I have to say I am nervous.

"My family knew this was a possibility, but I don't think they ever thought it was really going to happen. My fiancee is worried too, but if I've got to go, I've got to go."

Mr Burn, of St George's Road, Ramsgate, left the Army in 1999 after working as a combat medical technician for three years and due to staff shortages was automatically transferred to the reservists - ex-military personnel who are obligated to take part in military action if called.