ARMY recruiters hope the challenge of cooking Christmas lunch for hundreds of troops will attract would-be chefs to the armed forces.

Military chefs cater for up to 3,000 soldiers, often without the luxury of water supplies and cooking facilities.

Recruiter Sergeant Jason Gray, from Catterick Garrison Army careers information office, said that as well as cooking, chefs were trained to ration, prepare and store food in any environment.

He said: "An army requires strength and stamina and neither are possible without nutritional food. Army chefs play an essential part in the well-being of soldiers.

"Chefs particularly enjoy Christmas as there is nothing more satisfying than serving up a meal to soldiers and making them feel at home."

Army chefs - who require no experience -can gain qualifications that are recognised in civilian life.

Further information is available from Catterick Garrison Army careers information office on 01748-872093 or at www.armyjobs.mod.uk