THE sound of gunfire and yells of "kill! kill! kill!" echoed around Worcester City's St George's Lane ground yesterday.

But it was nothing to do with football.

The 1st Btn of the Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters entertained a crowd of 2,000 people with their mini Royal Tournament, part of the Keep the Army in the Public Eye initiative.

The hour-long show of bayonet fighting, drums and physical education displays culminated in a section attack.

Soldiers abseiled from a tower to attack "enemy troops" on the football pitch.

"I think the evening went tremendously well," said Lt Col Fred Chedham. "This event was just one way of demonstrating the nature of a military career."

The live band of The Prince of Wales Division entertained the crowd with their regimental display, the Drum Corps also thrilled the audience with their rendition of the theme tune from The Great Escape.

The Army Careers Office, where the county regiment has a recruiting officer, hoped the event would lead to many more recruits.

"This will have given us many years of work," said C/Sgt Pete Elcock, manager of the Foregate Street office, in Worcester. "There were plenty of younger kids who'll be coming to see us in a few years time."

The evening ended with a woman having her head shaved for charity.

Helen Windsor was helping to raise money for PACT, a charity at Sheffield Children's Hospital which is helping Sgt Andy Milton's godson, Ben Robinson, who is ill with cancer.

Ben's father, Howard, who died from cancer last year, was Sgt Milton's best friend.

"The charity gives equipment to Ben's family, which means he can spend time at home, rather than in hospital," added Sgt Milton, of The Queen's Royal Hussars.