Angela Williams is hoping for her son's safe return

For families with relatives now poised for military action in Iraq, the conflict has led to anxiety.

Angela Williams, from Llandwrog near Caernarfon, whose son is in the Royal Marines, said she was finding it very hard.

She last spoke to her son Robert, 21, in Kuwait on Monday, when he told her they were about to start manoeuvres.

"Every time I hear about it on the news my heart feels like lead," she said.

Nobody wants this and I just hope some good comes of it and that they all come back safely Marine's mother Angela Williams

"It's very hard - you expect their job to be mainly a peacekeeping role. You don't expect this.

"Reality has hit now and the worst thing is that there's nothing we can do about it.

"It is the same for mothers on both sides, and for wives and families.

"Nobody wants this and I just hope some good comes of it and that they all come back safely," she said.

Si�n Povey, 24, from Llanfrothen, near Beddgelert, has already been stationed in the Gulf since 14 February.

His grandmother, Anita Kirk, from Caernarfon, says she is sick with worry since the first bomb attacks were launched.

This response is growing into quite a serious movement and we will continue to put pressure on the government Anti-war protester Ben Gregory

"My heart is thumping at the moment," she said.

"I didn't slept all night and watched the first strike on the television.

"Si�n is in the Household Cavalry - he's one of the soldiers on the ground, so I think he would be among the first to go in after the bombs."

Mrs Kirk said Si�n, her first grandson, went into the Army at the age of 16.

His last phone call was on Wednesday in which he was apprehensive and "worked up", she said.

Meanwhile, anti-war activists in the area say they are now stepping-up their campaign.

School yard

The Arfon Peace and Justice Group joins other campaigners in holding an anti-war vigil in Penygroes near Caernarfon at 1800 GMT on Thursday evening.

At Thursday lunchtime, 80 pupils of Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen in Bethesda protested against war in the school yard.

They held up banners and chanted anti-war slogans during the half hour symbolic protest.

A similar protest was also held at Ysgol y Berwyn, Bala.

Ben Gregory from the Arfon group said the fact the war had now started had not diminished people's opposition.

"I have been surprised at how many children and young people are organising walk-outs across Wales," he said.

"All the messages I'm getting is that people say they need to do more.

"This response is growing into quite a serious movement and we will continue to put pressure on the government," he added.

The Arfon group have also organised a protest and another vigil on the Maes in Caernarfon on Friday.