TA soldiers have worked alongside regular troops in Iraq

Soldiers representing every TA unit across the region will be out and about in city centres on Saturday to explain what the reserve forces have to offer.

Units on show will include armour, artillery, infantry, paras, engineers, signals, logistics and medics.

The main displays are in Newcastle and Middlesbrough, with others across Tyneside, Teesside and Wearside.

The TA needs to recruit 700 soldiers from across the North East to replace those who have left at the end of their service or for personal reasons.

Air Vice Marshal Sandy Hunter said: "Over 1,000 TA soldiers from the North East have served alongside the regular army since 2003, mainly in Iraq, but also in Afghanistan and Bosnia.

"I was struck by the professionalism which they demonstrated, indeed it was impossible to distinguish between a regular soldier and a territorial, such was the standard of the TA soldiers."

Displays are also taking place in Blyth, Hexham, South Shields, Tynemouth, Darlington, Hartlepool and Sunderland.