UP TO 50 jobs are being offered at Banbury’s Territorial Army base as part of a major recruitment drive for the reserves.

Part-time chefs, medics, mechanics and IT specialists are being sought for the Signal Squadron, based in Oxford Road.

The squadron provides communications support for frontline troops, and members are posted to Afghanistan in small numbers when required.

The roles will be shared with the squadron’s Bletchley base, depending on where applicants live.

A recruitment evening is being held today at the centre.

The recruitment is part of a national campaign to increase the number of reserves in the face of cuts to the regular army.

Recruits get the same hourly pay as their equivalent role in the regular army.

Major Rick Fletcher, area army recruiting officer for Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, said: “The TA offers the best of both worlds to people who find the idea of army life appealing, and the leadership skills gained are highly valued by civilian employers, and being part of the TA can offer a source of income too. The TA provides the opportunity to go on operations, to take part in adventurous training and to learn new skills that can also be used in civilian life.”

For information call the centre on 01295 262178 or visit serfca.org.