Reporter Kylie Harrison's idea of action may normally be running for the bus, but when her newsdesk was looking for a recruit to join the Army for the day, she was the first - and only one - to volunteer.

While her male colleagues at Archant's Barking and Dagenham Post shied away from the task, Kylie, (27), decided to give it a go, and found life as a squaddie could be a lot of fun.

She said: "I heard my news editor talking to some in the men in the office about the challenge, but they were all coming out with ridiculous excuses not to go.

"I asked if a girl could go - not really meaning myself - and they asked if I wanted to do it.

"All I knew about it was that you got to drive a tank - I didn't know about the assault course!"

Despite being completely new Army life, Kylie threw herself into the challenge, and with the help of a few friendly soldiers she was soon climbing 12ft walls, learning to shoot and driving a tank round a course full of cones.

She said: "Driving the tank was the best bit. We had to wear headphones to hear the instructions. It was really hot and the equipment was very heavy.

"We had to go forwards and backwards around the cones, which was a bit difficult, but we went very slowly and kept in first gear - although I was tempted to put my foot down.

"As part of the assault course I had to climb over a 12ft wall, but I had a couple of strong men to help hoist me over so it was okay.

"It was a fun day, but I wouldn't fancy doing it everyday!"

Don't panic!

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