A ROSSENDALE couple who left the Valley to live in Kuwait now face the heartbreaking possibility of leaving their Arabian adventure behind as the threat of war looms in the Middle East.

Sean and Sharon McShea, formerly of Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, are considering a return to Britain with their two children as tension mounts.

The family spoke of their fears and the threat of military action after a dossier of evidence against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was disclosed last week.

It revealed that Iraq's armoury of chemical or biological weapons could be activated at 45 minutes notice.

The couple moved to Kuwait and started a family in 1996. They relocated to become teachers in a local primary school, where they have been ever since.

Sean, 34, said that after the events in 1998 a friend sent him a report of what the UN inspectors couldn't find.

Speaking from his home 50 miles from Iraq, he said: "It was awful. You just don't realise how much power this man has. It is very worrying for everybody out here. At the moment it is the only topic of conversation."

The former teacher at Thorn County Primary School, Bacup, said in the worst scenario he would be ready to flee his home and return to Rossendale to protect his family.

He added: "In 1998 the staff were brought together to be told by the director of the school that we could leave at any time. We didn't because we didn't have any children then but all the people who had families did leave the country.

"We are hoping and praying that it won't come to that again but with this man, you never know what will happen next."

Sean added: "So far we have been given advice about checking our cars and taking a different route when we go to school but this is routine stuff for us now."

His father Michael, who lives in Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, said he and his wife constantly checked the news for any developments.

He said: "Sean's mother is beside herself with worry. She checks the latest news every day in the hope that it will all go away".