Soldiers and RAF crews who played vital roles in the liberation of Iraq were welcomed back at RAF Brize Norton as Tony Blair declared the conflict was in its final stages.

But for workers at Oxford-based charity Oxfam the hard work is just beginning as they prepare to fly out emergency equipment to provide clean water and help with the humanitarian effort.

Triumphant troops, including soldiers, Royal Marines and RAF personnel, arrived early yesterday afternoon in one of the base's Tristar jets from Kuwait.

RAF Brize Norton spokesman Flt Lt David Rowe said: "It is now Ministry of Defence policy to return troops and equipment from where they are no longer needed."

Today, the bodies of seven British servicemen killed in the conflict were due to be flown into Brize Norton.

A ceremony was to be held on the runway in front of families and friends of the dead.

Defence Minister Lord Bach was representing the Government and the Duke of Kent will represent the Royal Family.

The return of the seven bodies brings the number of killed servicemen repatriated at Brize Norton to 28, leaving two of the 30 British fatalities still to be brought home.

Oxfordshire coroner Nicholas Gardiner will later open and adjourn inquests on the dead servicemen.

Oxfam will transport the relief aid to London Manston Airport in Kent tomorrow (16 April) from its emergency warehouse in Arkwright Road, Bicester. A plane carrying the aid, which has been provided by the United Nations, is due to leave on Thursday (17 April).

Oxfam spokesman Zahra Akkerhuys said the water and sanitation supplies would help to repair the country's infrastructure and offer much-needed support to Iraqis.

"We are hoping to send out the emergency equipment as soon as possible," she said.

"We will be flying over 17 tonnes of water, water tanks, pumps, pipes, tap stands and Oxfam's award-winning buckets, which are made of ultra-violet resistant plastic.

"Three four-wheel drive vehicles are also being flown over."