Only a fraction of the RAF jets due to move to the Gulf have yet reached their destination, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

The rest are stuck at bases in Cyprus and Britain because Muslim countries have refused to allow them to overfly.

The RAF deployment announced three weeks ago was supposed to be its largest for years made up of 100 aircraft, including 75 fast jet fighters or bombers.

On a three-day visit to Kuwait on Monday, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon claimed Britain was ready for war.

But with an air war now almost certainly imminent the RAF has only managed to get six fast jets from Britain to the region, BBC News has learned.

A further 12 - all tornados - are stuck in Cyprus.

Another 35 have been unable even to leave the UK because countries in the region opposed to war have refused overflights, according to BBC defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan.

The RAF's strike presence in Kuwait is limited to the six that have already made it there plus the 14 based there for no fly zones. A further 10 are in Turkey.

After days of talks the Ministry of Defence said some of the jets stuck in Cyprus would move soon but there would still be a big blockage.

Mr Hoon said there was no rush to war, as he refused to be drawn on the possible timetable for any military action.

The defence secretary has previously announced the deployment of a force of around 30,000 troops and commandos, as well as a 17-vessel Navy task force.