Peace-campaigning pensioner Karl Dallas, pictured, will be heading to a huge electricity station in Iraq tomorrow to begin his role as a human shield in the war-threatened country.

The 72-year-old, of Manningham, Bradford, has finally arrived in the country and set up base after volunteering to help residents in Baghdad should conflict break out.

And today he told the Telegraph & Argus he was warmly welcomed by his Iraqi hosts and was settling in.

"Things are okay here, people are very friendly, and we have complete freedom to go wherever we want," he said.

"I plan to go to an electricity supply station tomorrow since this is likely to be a prime target as so many things - hospitals, water treatment, communications - depend on electricity."

Mr Dallas is one of hundreds of anti-war volunteers in Baghdad as part of the Human Shield Mission, which aims to help Iraqis and give medical assistance if there are injuries.

He and fellow campaigners flew out to Jordan before being bussed to their base.

Initially he was to have joined a bus convoy from London but protest organisers felt the group should get to Iraq as soon as possible.

Mr Dallas was armed with messages of hope for Iraqi children from young people in Bradford.

Members of Heaton Woodcraft Group made gifts and wrote poems of peace and hope to forge strong links with children in Baghdad.

Uzma Bashir, 32, from Bradford, and a lecturer in Hertfordshire, was flying out today.

She said: "I am going because the British Government will not listen to me. Our plan is to put pressure on the Government and stop this war."

Miss Bashir, who is the youngest of six children, gave up her job to fly to Iraq.

She added: "My family and friends are brilliant, they support me. My father is dead, but my mother is still living. It has been emotional and difficult, because family is family, but my mother will support me.

"I am willing to put my life on the line."