DENTIST Colin Cromie knows the drill inside out! And he certainly doesn't forget his toothbrush during the intrepid weekends of activity with the Territorial Army's 207 Field Hospital.

Colin, 30, has been given the responsibility of raising the public profile of the 207 Field Hospital in the North West.

His role as press officer for the Manchester-based unit comes five years after he joined the TA.

A major role will be to attract new recruits, especially nurses who are in short supply.

Colin, whose dental practice is in Accrington Road, Blackburn, said the 430-strong unit was an integral part of the TA and included highly qualified personnel, among them doctors, dentists and physiotherapists. Several members of the field hospital team have recently returned from a stint of service in Bosnia.

The public can also be trained to become combat medical technicians although applicants are strictly vetted.

training ranges from basic first-aid to life-saving battlefield surgery techniques.

Colin said: "I would encourage people to give it a go.

"You get to meet lots of different people who you would never normally meet.

"The weekend activities are superb.

"Last weekend we went rafting, tackled an assault course and did some weapons training."

For more information call the TA in Manchester on 0161 226 8511.

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