TWO boys who have been friends since they started school have both grown up to be members of an elite Army regiment.

Darren Davies and Tom Neathway have been friends since they were at St Barnabas CE Primary School in Worcester.

Now aged 19, they are both in the Parachute Regiment 2nd Battalion.

The pair gave up some of their leave after a posting in Northern Ireland to spend time in the Army Careers Office, Worcester where they had both signed up, to give an insight to future recruits.

Pte Davies already had good company when he signed up for a life in the forces - his elder brother is in the same battalion.

"It makes it easier when you settle in if you already know someone there," said Pte Neathway, who is from Astwood, Worcester.

"I'm looking forward to getting involved now. I've just passed out and done my parachute training.

"The first time I felt quite sick going up in the plane, but coming down I had a big smile on my face."

The two paratroopers are now looking forward to training in Kenya and America.

Gaining the maroon beret is one of the hardest things a soldier can do. When Pte Neathway started his training there were 70 potential paratroopers, but only 17 passed out.

He's now in the same battalion as his old school friend, Pte Davies. They both studied at Bishop Perowne CE High School.

"The Paras recruit nationally but there are a lot from Worcester because we have a Parachute Regiment recruiter here," said Col Sgt Mark Beney, manager of the Foregate Street office.

''They work hard to get that far, it's the maroon beret and cap badge they want."