FIFTEEN years ago, record numbers of Army recruits were dropping out without finishing their basic infantry training, Government figures revealed.

More than a third of infantry troops, who all trained at Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire, failed to complete the intensive 26-week course, despite improvements in troops' living conditions, welfare and accommodation.

In 2004, 26.4 per cent of infantry recruits left the Army before the end of their training, but in 2008 that figure has jumped to 34.6.

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The news followed a report released by the Ministry of Defence showing that the armed forces were operating at 96.9 per cent of their full-time trained requirement, and are 5,000 men and women under strength.

Major David Cunningham, spokesman for the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick, said measures were being put in place to tackle the problem.

"We can't just blame society for sending us unsuitable recruits, " he said.

"It is our job to train soldiers properly, and we must be proactive.

"For example, over the past couple of years we have seen vast improvements in the accommodation and facilities here at the centre, and the course itself has also been lengthened by two weeks to make it less intensive."

Householders across Britain were left counting the cost of the biggest earthquake to hit the UK in nearly 25 years.

Thousands of people as far apart as Dumfries, in Scotland, and Swansea, in South Wales, were shaken awake when the 5.2 tremor struck just before 1am on Wednesday, February 27, 2008.

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In the North-East, a man's pride and joy was destroyed when bricks crashed onto his classic car.

Alan Hemming has spent the past four years restoring his green 1971 Hillman Avenger.

The 53-year-old had two hours more work to do before putting it in for its MOT. He was hoping to drive it in the summer.

But when he arrived for work at Princess Road Tyres, in Seaham, he found the car covered in bricks.