Eight swell the military ranks.

EIGHT local recruits have pledged their allegiance to Queen and Country at a special enlistment ceremony at the Worcester Guildhall in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Worcester Coun Stephen Inman.

Friends, families and onlookers gathered outside the Guildhall as the Pipes and Drums band of the 1st Royal Irish Regiment, along with their Irish Wolfhound mascot Brian Brew, filled the high street with music.

All eight will be moving into their chosen units on completion of basic military training. Five, including three from Worcester, one from Kidderminster and one from Evesham, have chosen to join the Parachute Regiment which forms part of the Army's rapid reaction force and is a highly regarded Airborne Infantry unit.

Recruits who enlisted on the day were: Parachute Regiment: James Martin, 19, from Worcester; Aaron Mason, 20, from Worcester; Liam Gallagher, 25, from Worcester; Jason Cortis, 19, from Kidderminster; Matthew Kirk, 21, from Evesham. Royal Engineers: John Middleton, 21, from Worcester. Royal Artillery: Wale Mustapha, 27, from Worcester. Royal Logistics Corp: Nicola Hodges, 19, from Redditch.

For further information on one of the 45-plus sports you can play with the British Army or Territorial Army, contact the Worcester Army Careers Information Office on 01905 723 677.