Image copyright Handout Image caption "Ever since Megan was at school, she always wanted to be in the armed forces", her family said

An Army recruit who died while undergoing initial training at Pirbright Camp in Surrey has been named as Megan Park.

Ms Park, who was 21 years old and from Blackburn, Lancashire, died "doing the thing she loved," her family said.

An Army spokeswoman said the incident was being investigated and it had no further comment at this time.

The training centre in Brookwood delivers a 14-week course for recruits aged 17 or older when they enlist.

'Quirky personality'

In a statement, Ms Park's family said: "It is with deepest regret that Megan's family must announce that she has sadly passed on, doing the thing she loved.

"Ever since Megan was at school, she always wanted to be in the armed forces. Everybody who knew Megan was aware of this.

"She was so excited about going. It was the start of her dream job," the statement continued.

"Megan will always go on in people's memories for her lively sense of humour and her fun sarcasm and quirky personality."

A spokeswoman for the Army said: "We offer our condolences to the family and ask that you respect their privacy while they come to terms with their sudden loss."

"She would have been on phase one training," the Army added.

Jonathan Beale, BBC defence correspondent, said Ms Park: "Collapsed while taking part in physical exercise - believed to have been a mile-long run or march."

He said an Army source told the BBC the run was against the clock and not what is referred to as "a beasting" - an informal punishment exercise.

The source added it was very different from the circumstances in which three Army reservists died during SAS selection training in the Brecon Beacons two years ago.

The inquest into their deaths revealed serious failings by the Army.

Over the past 15 years there have been 126 deaths during training across all three services, including four so far this year.

Image caption The Army has offered its condolences to the woman's family

'Challenging and demanding'

Surrey Police said Ms Park's death was being "treated as unexplained" and at this stage there was "no indication of any third party involvement".

The force was called to the training centre in Greenwood Road at about 17:30 BST on Wednesday.

A spokeswoman said officers were "working alongside partner agencies, including the Coroner's Office, to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident".

Pirbright is described by the Ministry of Defence as the "largest initial training site in the Army".

The Army website says this training follows a common military syllabus which is both "challenging and demanding".

All female recruits over the age of 17 and all male trainees over the age of 17 pass through Pirbright, except for members of the Royal Armoured Corps, Household Cavalry, Royal Engineers and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.