Colchester could be home to Prince William if he sticks with a decision to join the Paras.

Reports in a Sunday newspaper have claimed the prince is hoping to join the elite Parachute Regiment which will be based in the town from next spring.

At 17, the prince is too young to join as an officer and could only sign up as a soldier.

However at 18 he can become an officer by attending the training course at the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst.

If the prince did do this he would not be recruited in time to join the Paras before they moved from their base in Aldershot to Colchester.

At Sandhurst, Paras learn basic military training, leadership and command, weapons handling and the history of conflict.

They then have to take part in three exceptionally tough courses including parachute jumps and assault courses.

An Army spokeswoman said new recruits spent a year training at Sandhurst before moving to a battalion.

The Parachute Regiment has three battalions, two of which are in Aldershot and the other in Dover.

The spokeswoman said that while the Paras' base would be Colchester, the soldiers could be posted anywhere in the UK.

A spokeswoman for St James's Palace said Prince William has made no decision about his long-term future.

He would be the first royal for many years to choose an Army route into the services.

William's father, the Prince of Wales is honorary colonel of the Paras.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.