Geoff Hoon has announced the deployment of further British military forces to the Gulf.

As preparations for war step up, the defence secretary revealed that more fighters, bombers, reconnaissance and air-to-air refuelling planes are being deployed to the region.

The move adds to UK forces already in the region to enforce the "no fly zones" over Iraq.

Hoon said that around 100 fixed-wing aircraft are to be deployed with about 7000 personnel in support.

The forces would have "an offensive capability should it be required, including precision guided weapons".

There will also be a "substantial" deployment of 27 puma and Chinook helicopters with an additional 1100 support personnel.

"These air deployments provide a balanced and flexible force package bringing together a wide range of capabilities," Hoon said.

"I do not intend to discuss the specific tasks that might be undertaken, but it will be obvious to the house that this represents a very substantial contribution by the Royal Air Force to the building of a credible threat of force in support of the policy objectives which I have previously set out."

Despite the deployments, he said that Iraq still had a short time left in which to avoid war by complying with the United Nations.

Britain has already committed 30,000 troops to the region and has announced plans to call up 6000 reservists.

The largest Royal Navy flotilla since the Falklands War has also set sail for the region.

For the Conservatives, Bernard Jenkin backed the move but raised concerns over possible overstretch in the armed forces.

The US is said to require Britain's reconnaissance capabilities.

And during operations in Afghanistan the American forces relied significantly on Britain's air-to-air refuelling planes to help keep their aircraft flying during sustained bombing missions.

Today's air deployment is significantly bigger than that sent during the last Gulf war.