LIGHT Armoured Vehicles are being deployed across Yorkshire as part of a recruitment drive by the York-based Queen’s Own Yeomanry.

The light armoured Army Reserve regiment wants more reservists from civilian life to join up, and reservist soldiers are taking their light armoured vehicles to towns and cities including Easingwold, Selby, Thirsk, Driffield, Goole, Leeds and Northallerton.

They are distributing leaflets and setting up stands at retail parks, town centres and colleges to encourage anyone aged 18-43 to consider joining the specialist unit. The vehicles carry machine guns on board which are unloaded.

A spokesman said the tour would visit York suburbs today and tomorrow, and the campaign would culminate with an open evening at the Regiment’s Yeomanry Barracks in Fulford Road from 7pm until 10pm next Tuesday.

Trooper Anton Smith, 28, who serves with QOY but in civilian life works as an occupational therapist, said it was an exciting time to join the Army Reserve, with a “wider range of roles and deployments, better training and more opportunities to do things that you never imagined you’d be doing”.

He said: “The reconnaissance soldier, which is what QOY specialises in, provides an exciting range of activities and roles within the army, including free provision of training for driving licences, from a car licence to HGV, as well as adventurous training such as mountain biking and scuba diving.”

“So if you’re looking to do something extra with your life, while at the same time learning and enhancing new skills, making new friends, and of course getting paid for the privilege, then there really is no better time to become a member of the Army Reserve in The Queen’s Own Yeomanry.”

For details contact 01904 668080, phone/text: 07584 386146 or email QOY-A-RECRUITINGTEAM@mod.uk