A YOUNG soldier who swapped a modelling career to become an Army health care assistant is returning home to talk about her experiences in the services.

Private Karli Pearson, 18, from East Stanley has completed her basic training, and is about to embark on trade training with the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps.

Up until August 17, she will be at the Newcastle Armed Forces Careers Offices, in Ridley Place, where she enlisted, talking to other young people about career opportunities in the Army.

Pte Pearson, who attended Tanfield Lea Comprehensive School, near Stanley, first became interested in nursing when she did some voluntary work at her local hospital, where her mother worked as a nurse.

Pte Pearson said: "After leaving school, I spent a year as a model and another as a waitress, but wanted to find something that I would really enjoy doing.

"I got a lot of satisfaction from my voluntary nursing work and also found out about the exciting nursing career opportunities available in the Army, so I decided to combine the two.

"Even though I've only been in the Army for a short time, I feel I've already got a lot out of it and am really glad I chose it as a career."