The number of regular soldiers in the Army has shrunk below 80,000 as it struggles to recruit, the latest manning figures show.

Troop numbers have slid well below the downsized 82,000 target imposed after austerity defence cuts, despite millions of pounds having been spent on recruiting campaigns.

Cuts had already left the Army at its smallest since the Napoleonic Wars and low unemployment, a lack of operations and stubbornly low morale after years of cutbacks are all harming recruitment, sources said.