'Almost daily' warnings of terror threats to UK targets

Tony Blair says security services are warning on an almost daily basis of terrorist threats to a wide range of targets in the UK.

He said if he had acted on every piece of raw intelligence during his time as Prime Minister he would have shut down railways, airports and shopping centres "on many occasions".

He has urged the public to remain vigilant in the face of new threats which he said will test Britain's national character.

"It will test not just our ability to fight, but our character, our resilience and our belief in our own way of life," said Mr Blair.

"On the war on terrorism, he added: "It is a war I have total confidence we will win, but will not be without pain or come without a price."

Mr Blair's warnings come in the wake of the Bali bombings last month and the Moscow theatre siege.

He said: "Today's breed of terrorist knows no bounds - of geography, of inhumanity, or of scale. They are looking for ever more dramatic and devastating outrages to inflict upon the people they claim to be their enemy."

But he warned that the purpose of terrorism was not just to kill or maim but to spread panic and said a balance had to be struck by responsible governments.

"As the name suggests, terrorism is about terror. It is to scare people, disrupt their normal lives, produce chaos and disorder, distort proper and sensible decision making.

"The dilemma is warning people without alarming them, taking preventive measures without destroying normal life."