A Sussex man will fly to Iraq in the new year as part of an international peace delegation aiming to prevent war.

Matt Barr expects to leave his home at Fishbourne, near Chichester, on January 18 to spend a few weeks living with Iraqi families.

He said he would not be a human shield if war started but ordinary people in Iraq needed to know there was support for them in Britain and the United States.

Mr Barr is part of the international Voices in the Wilderness group, which campaigns to have UN sanctions lifted.

The 22-year-old said: "It is about trying to prevent a war in Iraq by trying to amplify the concerned voices of such organisations as UNICEF."

He will fly to Amman in Jordan before travelling to Baghdad by road.

The campaigners will spend a few weeks in the country before coming home to speak to peace groups.

He said: "A war can only contribute further to the misery in Iraq."