LANCASTER and Morecambe's MPs stood on opposite sides of the divide over Iraq this week - but have united in support of troops now going to war.

As peace vigils were being staged around the area, Geraldine Smith used her vote in Parliament on Tuesday to back military action while Hilton Dawson opposed the move.

Morecambe and Lunesdale MP Ms Smith had been against war without UN sanction but changed her stance after learning France would block any resolution containing an ultimatum.

Ms Smith said this had 'destroyed any chance' of a second UN resolution, and felt there was no alternative but to rally behind Tony Blair and the troops.

"The French veto has left the UN in tatters - it will take a lot of work to rebuild it. At the end of the day we need to disarm Saddam Hussein," she says.

Lancaster and Wyre MP Mr Dawson, who wrote a damming letter telling Mr Blair war would be 'a colossal mistake', was among Labour rebels to vote against the Government's motion for war.

However, he said afterwards: "Parliament has made its choice and it is now essential everyone gets behind the people who are out in Iraq, who will be risking their lives for this country. Certainly people from Lancaster will be doing that and our thoughts have to be with them."

Lancaster Green Party's Cllr Emily Heath says party members are 'appalled our Government has led the stampede to war'.

"Weapons inspectors were not given sufficient time to finish their task," she says.

She also deplored the British and American governments for calling for Saddam to disarm while having no intention of reducing their own weapons of mass destruction.

"We do not support this war and we will support those who protest against it," she adds.