HUNDREDS of the region’s part-time soldiers face the axe in a shake-up designed to make the Territorial Army better prepared for war.

The posts will be lost from signals units in Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Newcastle, whose technology is now obsolete, the Ministry of Defence said.

Ministers pledged the reservists affected would be offered alternative positions within the TA where possible and denied the motivation was cost-cutting.

With 2,000 posts to go across the country, they are yet to decide exactly where the axe will fall. However, regiments affected will include:

● 34 Sig Regt (V) 50 Sig Sqn, Darlington;
● 34 Sig Regt (V) 90 Sig Sqn, Hartlepool;
● 34 Sig Regt (V), 34 Sig Regt (V) REME LAD, 34 Sig Regt (V) 90 Sig Sqn Det, all Middlesbrough;
● 34 Sig Regt (V) 50 Sig Sqn Det, Newcastle.

Defence Minister Bob Ainsworth said the decision had not been taken lightly, but insisted the communications equipment they were formed to operate was no longer needed.

He told MPs: “We are very aware of the exceptional contribution made by the Royal Signals within the TA, but we must focus resources where we need them most. Where possible, those affected by the decision will be offered other opportunities within the TA.”

The cuts were announced alongside the conclusions of a year-long review of the reserves, designed to make the troops “better trained, better organised and more deployable”, Mr Ainsworth said.

He described the “weekend warrior” image of reservists as “old fashioned”.

Training would prepare reserve forces for an active role in overseas operations and would be structured to ensure troops are ready for mobilisation within three years.

Efforts to work more closely with private employers would be stepped up and property and buildings which were no longer suitable for use, or in a poor condition, would be sold.

The Conservatives welcomed the “genuine attempt”

to improve and speed-up basic training for reservists, but criticised the lack of detail about improvements to the welfare of reservists.