A Royal Naval Reserve unit has opened in landlocked Batley - more than 60 miles from the sea.

The Royal Navy has set up the unit in a bid to offer landlubbers from Bradford, Kirklees and Leeds the chance of a part-time life on the ocean wave.

Yorkshire has been without a Naval Reserve since a base at Yeadon was closed during cut-backs in 1994.

Lieutenant Commander Jerry Anderson, said reservists - the naval equivalent to the Territorial Army - can expect to see the world and draw a 'bounty payment' each year. He said: "You can literally see the world.

"We have people flying out to work on ships during their holidays from work.

"Reservists do their training out of normal work hours - we have everything from a professor to a bus driver.

"The reserve force is important and people are trained to the same standards as people in the regular service."

Lt Cdr Anderson added: "With the nearest centres being in Nottingham and Newcastle we lost people who were unable to travel that far after the Yeadon unit shut.

"We have some people travelling to Nottingham from West Yorkshire but not many. People need to pass aptitude tests and a medical but people don't need to be super-fit.

"Many use it as a way of seeing if a naval career is for them and then join the regulars."

They can then specialise - qualified doctors and nurses can join the medical branch while everyone else can learn how to use radio equipment in the communications section.

Lt Cdr Anderson said reservists were paid full naval rates and each year got a tax-free lump sum known as a bounty.

The Naval Reserve is open to anyone aged from 16 to 39. For more information phone (01924) 444110.

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