A CENTRE for army reserves has revamped its headquarters - complete with a training suite named in honour of a brave soldier killed in action.

The Barrow Army Reserve Centre, on Holker Street, was in need of renovation.

Major Andrew Reid said: "Just a couple of years ago this building was like walking through a portal into 1980.

"It was tired and not serving its purpose properly.

"But now, we have a state-of-the-art training and education facility."

The roof has been repaired, the gym suite refurbished and rooms modernised to meet technological standards.

And a training suite has been named in honour of Kingsman David Shaw, who died in 2013 from wounds sustained in Afghanistan.

His sister, Michelle Shaw, was present at the ceremony.

She said: "We are very honoured that the regiment has recognised David's contribution and his service."

To complement the new facilities, the regiment wants to fill out its ranks.

Lt Col Nick Kennon explained why the Barrow headquarters was so important.

He said: "If there was a local emergency in South Cumbria - like we have seen in the West and North of the county in recent years - this would become a critical HQ.

"Cumbrian recruits are brilliant for us and raring to go. C Company soldiers go on 2.1 times more training exercises than other companies."

Captain Chester Davidson agreed: "Now we have proper facilities for the reserves and cadets to work in, we want to pull people through the door."

They want to recruit both reservists and young cadets to bolster their ranks, which currently sit at about 50% of the size they want them to be.

James Conway, who has been a reservist for 4.5 years and works in the shipyard, said: "A lot of people I know think that if you're joining the reserves, you're signing your life away.

"But you're really not. People should understand that you can just do it as a hobby - it's an extra string in your bow, you get put in situations you would never find in an office, and you get some time off work to help."