Territorial Army soldiers from Sussex are gearing up for combat in the event of war in Iraq.

David Taylor, 31, of Old Town, Eastbourne, a private in the Prince of Wales's Royal Regiment based in Dyke Road, Hove, has been given compulsory orders and has already mobilised to an army centre ready for deployment to the Gulf.

Others are expecting orders in the coming weeks.

Captain Andrew Layall, Mr Taylor's commanding officer said there was a 99 per cent chance he go to the Gulf.

Mr Taylor, a bus driver with Eastbourne Buses said he was ready for action.

He said: "I am looking forward to it and I'm quite excited. I feel prepared for it with all the training that I have done.

"The letter was a bit of a shock but you always know there is a possibility you will be called up and this is what I chose to do.

"I have a nine-year-old daughter and she seems to understand, though I will especially miss her.

Captain Layall said ten members of the regiment had received compulsory notices.

He said: "This shows that the Territorial Army aren't just a Mickey Mouse outfit that plays with boys' toys."

Another 11 men including a student, an aircraft inspector, a builder and a sales consultant will be helping police more than a million people in Afghanistan next month.

The men from East and West Sussex are recruits in the Territorial Army and members of the third batallion of the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment.

They have volunteered to go to Kabul in a peacekeeping mission.

Headed by Lieutenant Andy Cocker, 35, a production manager from Wivelsfield Green, they will be part of a 54-strong team from Sussex, Surrey and Kent.

Jobs will include patrolling the city and guarding camps. They are also trained for rapid reaction in the case of emergency.

Stuart Williams-Wynn, 22, an aircraft inspector for Virgin Atlantic from Horsham said: "It's something I feel I've got to do.

"There is no police force or real infrastructure in Afghanistan. We're there as a peacekeeping mission. I want to help people who can't help themselves."

Corporal Paul Dyer-Wight, 30, from Hastings, has been in the TA for four and a half years.

He said: "I've spent the last few weeks desperately finishing off DIY in my flat. I'll be leaving behind my fiancee. We got engaged on Christmas Day after I found out I was leaving."

The men have been training to get in shape before they leave on March 31, aiming to be able to run 20 miles in full kit with 45lb rucksacks, rifles and boots.

They have had to make do with a local gym but Lt Cocker says local support has been great.

He went to the Brighton Health and Racket Club in Falmer to see if they could help.

He said: "I told them what we were doing and asked if we could use the gym for free. I expected them to laugh in my face but to my surprise they said yes."

Assistant general manager Steve Bell said: "It was no problem. It's been quite a talking point - we've never had people running on treadmills in rucksacks before."