Two Territorial Army bases in the district will be axed, because they failed to sign up enough part-time soldiers.

Belle Vue Barracks in Manningham Lane, Bradford, and the TA Centre in Lawkholme Lane, Keighley, will both close by 2016, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced.

Defence chiefs are targeting bases with fewer than 30 recruits – less than one quarter of the benchmark of at least 125.

The sites will probably be sold off, although the MoD will also examine whether they should be retained for “other military purposes”.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said bases that had “seriously under-recruited must be culled, in order to maximise the potential for future recruitment”.

He told MPs: “The TA currently operates from 334 individual sites around the United Kingdom, including a number with small detachments of fewer than 30 personnel.”

The aim was to merge “small, poorly- recruited sub-units into larger sites in the same conurbation or in neighbouring communities”, Mr Hammond said.

Would-be reservists will instead be urged to join surviving bases at Thornbury Barracks in Pudsey, and in Leeds.

In addition, Mr Hammond announced a “reserve site” at Batley, eight miles south of Bradford, would be re- opened.

Last night, Keighley MP Kris Hopkins described the closure as “deeply regrettable”, but agreed it made sense.

The Conservative MP said: “The sad fact is that the number of recruits using the facilities in Keighley has been dwindling for some time and it appears this outcome was unavoidable.

“Joining up Keighley recruits with those from neighbouring areas will certainly strengthen their overall effectiveness and the learning experiences of the recruits themselves.”

The closures are part of a radical overhaul of the TA, to drive up reservist numbers from about 20,000 to 30,000, by 2018.

Reservists will receive military pensions and healthcare benefits under a shake-up expected to cost about £1.8 billion over the next decade.

Smaller firms that employ part-time soldiers will also receive an extra £500 per month when they are away on deployment.

And companies that discriminate against staff who want to serve will face action at employment tribunals, with possible legislation to ensure equal treatment in job applications.

The name ‘Territorial Army’ will also disappear and will be replaced by ‘Army Reserve’, to reflect its more important role in the future.

Critics have said attacked “an army on the cheap”, as the MoD will also reduce regular army numbers.

Yesterday’s announcement triggered a furious Commons row when Mr Hammond failed to reveal the 38 bases that are closing during his statement to MPs.

Jim Murphy, Labour’s defence spokesman, said: “It appears the MoD tried to keep MPs in the dark over the bad news.”

Mr Hammond also said about £40m of investment in kit, such as night vision kit and helmet cameras, would be brought forward.