LANCASHIRE'S regiment has defended the army's policy on recruiting and refuted claims that it glamorises warfare.

And the family of an East Lancashire soldier said that he "always understood" what life in the armed forces could mean when he joined up at 15.

A report has accused the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of misleading potential young recruits by not giving realistic information about the physical risks and ethical dilemmas involved.

The UK is the only European country which takes on recruits aged 16 for the armed forces, though they cannot be sent on operational deployment until they are 18.

The report, written by researcher David Gee and backed by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, said the MoD left out vital information, and often did not meet with the parents of under-18s to discuss joining up.

Mr Gee also said that younger recruits were not always told that unless they left within six months, they were legally obliged to stay for at least four years.

But Kevin Hegarty, is a spokesman for the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, which has soldiers from across East Lancashire, some of whom are currently serving in Iraq.

He said: "Approximately 30per cent of new recruits are under 18. However we don't send them on operations, they will be sent on various training programs.

"The advertisements are designed to spark an interest so that youngsters, or anyone who is attracted to them, will go out and find more information on how to join.

"The environment is challenging because there are other options, such as higher education, but interest in joining the army is still high.

"We believe that we make new recruits fully aware of what the job of being a soldier entails - there are obvious risks and we don't hide it from soldiers."

Approximately 15per cent of new recruits are from the North West.

Barbara Whittam's grandson Gary Davis joined the Army when he was 15.

Now 21, Gary is a Kingsman in the Duke of Lancaster's regiment and is currently on his first operational deployment in Basra, Iraq.

Mrs Whittam, from Athens View in Fulledge, Burnley, said: "Gary always understood what going into the Army meant, there was never any doubt about that.

"He did not just go in for a job, he joined because that was what he wanted to do, and he was prepared for every eventuality.

"And we as his family also understood what might happen. As Gary says, you're there do fight for Queen and country, and we knew it could easily mean going somewhere dangerous.

"Perhaps there are some young lads who join the Army just for a job, and then when they realise what it entails some don't want to go."