Call of Duty: Defence secretary John Healy wants online gamers to join up for real to become drone pilots as he plans to ease entry requirements for 'console warriors'

John Healey has urged keyboard warriors to sign up for real and help the Armed Forces manpower crisis - by piloting drones.

The Defence Secretary wants geeks and gamers to join Britain's cyber forces to utilise skills they have gained playing games like the Call of Duty franchise.

And he is preparing to water down the fitness requirements for joining up to make it easier for them to get in, scrapping rules that block people who suffer from hayfever, eczema and acne.

Speaking to the Sun on Sunday Mr Healey said: 'We are short of drone pilots.

'You can see the changing nature of warfare in Ukraine , where the combination of artillery and drones is responsible for the large majority of all the casualties.

'The sort of skills that drone pilots have are many of the same skills as some of our best console warriors in civilian life.'

The Sun on Sunday revealed that suspected Russian actors have been caught trying to hack into Britain's core defence structure 90,000 times over the past two years.

Mr Healey, who will set out details of his plans in a speech at Labour's conference in Liverpool on Monday, also eased 'outdated' recruitment requirements for the wider armed forces.

Over 100 recruitment policies have been scrapped or updated since Labour entered Government, including measures blocking some sufferers of hay fever, eczema and acne, and some injuries that have fully healed.

Mr Healey also promised a new ambition to make a conditional offer to would-be recruits within 10 days and confirmation of a training start date within 30 days.

The Defence Secretary said: 'Labour is a party with historic roots in Britain's armed forces. We are deeply proud of those who serve our country and we are determined to tackle the crisis in recruitment and retention caused by years of Conservative hollowing-out.

'Our armed forces rightly set the highest standards and with Labour that will continue. At the same time, we will unblock the bottlenecks, the needless red tape and delays which are turning great talent away from our forces.

'As the world changes, and threats evolve, we also need to ensure our recruitment is right for the 21st century.

'That's why we will remove unnecessary barriers and fast-track bright candidates into cyber defence to help face down Putin's online aggression.

'Alongside the largest pay rise in 20 years for existing troops, Labour is getting on with fixing the foundations of our armed forces and supporting the brave men and women who keep Britain safe.'