Mike Kirkby, 38, of Dale Grove, Leigh, who served in the Gulf in 1991, has battled with the MOD and health authorities over how he contracted Gulf War Syndrome.

To increase his survival time during chemical warfare, he was given multiple shots of the Plague Vaccine, which he claims contains adjuvant squalene – the same additive that will be used in the new swine flu vaccine.

He endured seizures, vomiting and diarrhoea and was declared medically unfit.

He is the North West area co-ordinator for the National Gulf War Veterans and Families Association, which is raising awareness of the link between Gulf War Syndrome and squalene.

He said: "It might be fine, but I want people to know about what's going on. I understand people need the vaccine, but people should have the choice.

"We are trying to make sure the public are aware that there are two vaccines. I would rather people be safe than take it and have problems later in life."

But Dr Kate Ardern, executive director of public health for the Borough of Wigan, insists the vaccine is safe and squalene was not added to the vaccines given to war veterans. She added there was an alternative vaccine, Baxter vaccine, for those with egg allergies, which does not have the squalene.

She said: "Squalene is a naturally occurring substance found in plants, animals, and humans.

"There is a hypothesis squalene is linked to Gulf War syndrome because of the anti squalene anti bodies found in some veterans. Not all will have received the anthrax vaccine – it is a different vaccine. It is now known squalene is not added to the vaccine administered to these veterans."

For the full story see today's (Tuesday) Wigan Evening Post ...