Politicians in Sussex reacted swiftly to news of today's attacks, expressing hope that the conflict would be quick with minimum loss of life.

There were strong local feelings that, despite initial opposition, the country must get behind our military forces.

Brighton and Hove Council leader Ken Bodfish said: "Now that action has started all responsible politicians should support the British troops.

"I just hope there will be a minimum of civilian casualties and the war will be over as quickly as possible."

The council's Tory opposition leader, Brain Oxley, said: "Saddam is a tyrant and action needs to be taken against him. The tragedy is that civilian lives are bound to be lost. I pray that the conflict will be short to minimise the number of civilian casualties."

Hove MP Ivor Caplin, a Government whip, said: "Now that hostilities have started I expect all MPs get behind our troops and ensure the job is done as quickly as possible to minimise casualties"

Both Brighton Labour MPs Des Turner and Dave Lepper defied their own Government by voting against war with Iraq.

Mr Turner said: "My reaction to war starting is sadness. I am just so disappointed it has come to this.

"I hope it is over as quickly as possible to limit the loss of innocent lives.

"All has not been lost by those involved in the parliamentary rebellion opposed to war. It has established a principle that before we go to war there must be a parliamentary vote at time when the role of parliament was slipping."

Norman Baker, Lib Dem MP for Lewes, has opposed the war and on Saturday led a protest march through his constituency.

He said:" Parliament voted by almost 2-1 to authorise war, and did so in the face of international and domestic opinion, against the express wishes of Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General, and Hans Blix, the Chief Weapons Inspector, and probably in violation of international law.

"In the process, the UN has been badly damaged, the European Union split, and NATO consigned to the sidelines. In short, much of the international structure that provides some order in our world has been seriously undermined.

"But I believe in democracy. I argued for Parliament to be given a vote on a substantive motion. It got that, and Parliament then voted for war. I regret the outcome, I voted against it, but I accept it. The war may be unwise and dangerous, but it is now, in UK terms, legitimate.

"Now we have to hope that the war will be conducted as painlessly and speedily as possible. Our thoughts must be with our troops, including constituents of mine, whom we have sent into the battlefield."

Church leaders across Sussex voiced opposition to the war and said they hoped the conflict would be short-lived with few casualties.

The Rev Roger Coombes, Archdeacon of Horsham, said: "Christian people will have various views on the military action.

"Churches will be praying the conflict will be short and that suffering will be limited and that war will not spread further afield."

Canon Jeffrey Scott, dean of Arundel Cathedral, said: "I am very perturbed at the British government getting itself into a war without UN backing.

"We have not followed matters as they should have been followed and I believe that is deeply worrying and sad."

The Rev Charlie Goring, of Christ Church, Eastbourne, said: "There has been a feeling that no one is convinced by the reasons for war.

"Although no-one doubts the barbarity of Saddam, nobody says we should be invading places like Zimbabwe or Syria where there have been even worse human rights abuses."

Stuart Geary, a Roman Catholic spokesman for the diocese of Arundel and Brighton, said: "It is a great shame people haven't been able to find a peaceful solution.

"We just hope it will be over quickly and that Iraq returns to be a part of the international community soon."

Simon Francis served with the Coldstream Guards on the front line in the first Gulf War and thinks military action is justified.

He said: "At the end of the day Saddam Hussein is a dictator. The people in Iraq who support him only do so because they're in danger if they don't.

"What they really want is for us to go in there and get rid of him so they can lead a normal life. He has had 12 years to comply and his time is up."