IT’S been 18 years but the Army made a dramatic return to the heart of Basingstoke on Monday.

TV sports presenter John Inverdale and a brass band drew hundreds to the town centre as the borough mayor officially opened the Army Careers Information Office in Wote Street.

Since the closure of the town’s old recruitment office in 1991, potential applicants have had to travel as far as Portsmouth and Aldershot to inquire about jobs.

Now Army chiefs are hoping to see an influx of new recruits at a time when interest in the Army is at a 10-year high.

Lt Col Stephen Hall, commander of regional recruitment for the South and Southeast, said: “It will make us more accessible so people can find out more about the Army. Now they can come in on their lunch break to see if it’s right for them, with no obligation.

“Recruitment traditionally goes from feast to famine. Opening more offices means when the tide goes out and the economy picks up we will have a stronger recruiting operation to sustain our needs.”

He added the office had been planned for 18 months and was not a response to recent casualties in overseas wars such as Afghanistan.

Shoppers were treated to a performance by the Band of the Adjutant General’s Corps, before Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane Councillor Brian Gurden cut a ribbon.

Cllr Gurden said: “It’s been quite a time since Basingstoke and Deane has had an army careers centre in town.

“It gives me real, great pleasure to see their return and welcome the Army back.”

Local girl Hannah Bramhall, of Wilmott Way, christened the opening of the new office by becoming the first new recruit to take the Oath of Allegiance. She beat 15 other candidates for one of only two slots available in the Intelligence Corps.

Hannah, 21, a former pupil at Fort Hill Community School, said: “I’m nervous but excited at the same time. I’ve got my basic training next Monday but eventually I’ll be going overseas.

“My friends and family are proud and very supportive.”

The Basingstoke office is the fourth new recruitment office to open in the south after Slough, Woking and Maidstone.

As part of the publicity, dozens of residents and VIPs were invited to a presentation held at the Ex-Services Club in New Road.

A familiar face from BBC coverage of major sport events, Mr Inverdale interviewed seven soldiers including a chef, an admin assistant and Basingstoke resident Lance Corporal Chris Paige.

Lance Cpl Paige, 25, of Hastings Close, Winklebury, a former student at The Vyne Community School, has served in the Army for eight years.

He said: “My dad was in the Army but going to school I found out about the cadets and thought, ‘yeah, I’ll have some of that’.

“It was not quite what I expected. I thought someone was going to shout at me 24/7 but it was nothing like that and a bit of a shock.

“I got back from Iraq in November 2007 where I was part of the Air Mobile Reaction Force. If there was an incident on the other side of Basra and it would take too long for the Army to get through town to it, then we would be deployed in a helicopter and deal with the situation.

“I’m a communications system operator which means I can use any form of communication the Army has, such as radios, mobiles and satellites.

“I would advise anybody to consider a job in the armed forces. The pros drastically outweigh the cons. You get a free pension, free medical and health care, loads of sport, cheap accommodation and three meals a day. I love my job.”