An army reservist based in Hampstead has said her time serving in Afghanistan was spent improving the lives of villagers.

Cpl Pam French, who met her husband while touring Afghanistan, said the highlight of her six years serving as part of the reserve forces was being deployed to the war-torn country in 2010 as an operational intelligence analyst.

The financial services executive made the comments on Saturday at Horse Guards Parade near Whitehall in one of the largest Armed Forces recruitment events ever held in London.

The 36-year-old, from 33 Company in Fitzjohns Avenue, part of 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, said: “I really enjoyed my operational tour to Afghanistan.

“I was part of a community engagement team that included doctors, vets and dentists and we made a very positive immediate impact on the health of the villagers we came into contact with.”