Delays in the application process for army recruits has seen thousands of would-be troops drop out altogether, it was reported last night.

Over 100,000 tried to sign up but only 7,500 became soldiers, according to The Sun, with a typical application taking around 300 days to be completed.

It leaves the army facing a potential shortage in troops, with it currently 4,000 soldiers short of the 82,000 it is supposed to have. Every year, it needs to hire 10,000 to make up for the numbers leaving.

The Ministry of Defence hired business outsourcing firm Capita in 2012 to help run recruitment for the army.

Some of the reasons why the backlog occurred in the process of hiring new soldiers was to do with extensive background and medical checks. However, around a third of applicants every year are turned away for being too old, too unfit or for failing educational standards.