Keighley MP and one-time soldier Kris Hopkins has rejected claims the Army should raise its minimum recruitment age.

Human rights group ForcesWatch has called for the age to be increased from 16 to 18, claiming younger recruits are more likely than older colleagues to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and behave violently on their return from war zones.

But Mr Hopkins, who served for five years with the Duke of Wellington Regiment, said: “Joining the armed forces provides an excellent platform for other careers later in life.

"For example, Army colleges enable young men and women from the age of 16 to learn skills, earn money and become a soldier.”