ARMY chiefs have hit back at a York charity which has accused it of misleading new recruits by glamorising war as "game-like" fun.

A report by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust claims children as young as seven have been targeted by armed forces recruitment campaigns, and says they do not make them youngsters aware of the dangers, the changes in lifestyle and the ethical issues involved in joining up.

But the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has responded angrily to the organisation's allegations, saying they are "incorrect and ill-informed".

The "Informed Choice?" report backed by The Trust, which brands itself as being committed to "the creation of a peaceful world", was compiled by David Gee, who says the Army is being faced with greater challenges to attract recruits because fewer people now want to join, partly because of the negative publicity over the Iraq conflict and improvements to education opportunities in the UK.

It says: "Recruitment literature for army careers emphasises potential benefits: career interest and challenge, comradeship, the active lifestyle, travel and training opportunities.

"It omits to mention or obscures the radical change from a civilian to a military lifestyle, ethical issues involved in killing, risks to physical and mental healthand the right of conscientious objection.

"Key messages are tailored to children's interests and values, military roles are promoted as glamorous and exciting, warfare is portrayed as game-like and enjoyable, and outreach to the young is described as serving their personal growth and education."

It recommends sweeping changes to the armed forces' recruitment policies, including a radical review of recruitment literature, phasing out recruitment of minors and giving recruits new rights to leave the service.

But an MoD spokesman said: "Some of these assertions are incorrect and ill-informed, others are selective in their interpretation of recruitment practises and some of the evidence is out-of-date.

"A career in the armed forces provides amazing and unique opportunities for a wide range of people and equips people with skills and qualifications which can be transferred to civilian life. Joining the services is a life-changing decision and is not taken lightly.

"Our recruitment practices avoid glamorising war' and we refute any allegation that they depict warfare as game-like'. Anybody considering a career in the armed forces is presented with clear information and all aspects of service life are discussed in detail, following a sensitive recruitment process.

"The services do not target people under the age of 16. The recruiting process is designed to protect the interests of the applicants at every stage, regardless of age."

And the MoD said parents or guardians of applicants under-18 had to give their consent before the applicant could enter the armed forces, while school visits were intended to raise awareness rather than to snare new recruits.