"WE Want You!" was the message issued by the Territorial Army at the weekend as it launched a drive for recruits.

Units from Darlington, Newton Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland opened their doors to the public to mark TA Day on Saturday.

On display were weapons used by reservists and scores of vehicles, including communication trucks and jeeps.

Soldiers were also on patrol in Darlington's Cornmill Shopping Centre and at the town's Dolphin Centre, giving out information leaflets.

Captain John Wilson, administration officer at the Darlington TA Centre in Neasham Road, said: "We have not done too badly. We have had a great deal of interest in what we do from people who came to the centre and who we spoke to in town."

The TA is aiming to recruit at least 300 members in the North this year. It is particularly keen to attract qualified medical personnel to its field hospital unit, at Newton Aycliffe, and volunteers to join the Royal Signals attachment in Darlington.

Recruits, who need to be between 17 and 32, can learn a wide range of skills, including driving heavy goods vehicles, operating sophisticated signalling equipment and parachuting.

They are paid for their training, with a number currently serving voluntarily in Bosnia and Kosovo.

A spokesman said: "There is an annual turnover of people who leave because of age limits or personal circumstances, so there is a constant demand for new recruits.

"By joining up they can do something exciting, different and worthwhile with their free time."

For more information contact your local TA centre, listed in the telephone book under Army.