The ministry added that it had been decided last year to offer urine tests to military personnel returning from deployments where depleted uranium weapons were used.

Depleted uranium-tipped shells are used to pierce armoured vehicles including tanks.

A defence ministry spokesman said tests would be available to any personnel who wanted them. Around 45,000 British servicemen and women have been involved in the Gulf conflict, of which around 26,000 have been land forces.

Uranium-tipped weapons used by allied forces in the 1991 Gulf War have been blamed by former servicemen for a range of debilitating medical conditions.

SPACE.WIRE