THE training of recruits at Europe's biggest Army base has been given a clean bill of health by a team of inspectors.

The Infantry Training Centre at Catterick Garrison was subjected to a three-day inspection by the Office of Standards in Education last November.

It was part of a nation-wide inspection of military training units commissioned by the Ministry of Defence and the first of what will be annual reports was published yesterday.

The inspectors found the overall effectiveness and capacity to improve of the ITC at Catterick was satisfactory although they noted that the recruit drop-out level was high.

The selection, training and development of instructors won praise.

"Training teams are strongly focused on producing the best possible infantry soldier for the field army," said the report.

"Recruits interviewed by the inspectors were very complimentary about the quality of their training teams and the junior non-commissioned officers in particular."

However the inspectors did find that the instructors' workload was very high.

"They work very long hours. For many this has a negative impact on their personal lives," said the report.

"It also increases the risk that high standards of welfare and duty of care may not be maintained."