THE Army brought up the big guns to help with its latest recruitment campaign in York.

The Challenger II main battle tank, one of the largest and most powerful weapons systems available, was on show at the city's Imphal Barracks during a special careers fair.

The event on Saturday was aimed at highlighting the 15,000 jobs in more than 140 trades which the Army has to offer, with engineers, signallers, guardsmen and mechanics among those on hand to talk to young people and their families.

There was also the chance for men and women aged between 17 and 26 to win an adventure training holiday with the Army in Cyprus, involving sea canoeing, sub-aqua, mountain biking, mountain walking, and cultural visits to historic sites.

Entrants had to complete a simple physical test, a problem-solving command task, working as part of a team, a logic test and an interview in their efforts to win through to a national competition with ten places at stake.

Winners at Saturday's open event at Imphal Barracks, York, and winners from other open days around the country now go forward to regional heats.

For more information about career opportunities, log on to the website www.army.mod.uk or call in at your nearest Army careers office.

Updated: 11:39 Monday, February 11, 2002