EAST Lancashire members of Britain's largest teachers' union have raised their opposition to a military attack on Iraq.

Simon Jones, the National Union of Teachers' executive member for the area, told a Lancashire Division meeting at County Hall, Preston: "We must avoid the desperate human cost of a war."

A motion moved by Mr Jones, and seconded by Lancashire NUT president Sue Shewring called on the Government to work for a peaceful resolution through the United Nations.

Mr Jones said: "Surely it is high time we learned the lessons of the past.

"To avoid the desperate human cost that would arise in the event of war, every effort should be made to find solutions through diplomatic and peaceful means, with the UN playing a central role to ease tension and avoid war."

The Lancashire NUT will now lobby all the region's MPs and write to the Prime Minister to argue the case for peace. Members are also being called on to support a national demonstration for peace to be held in London on September 28.