Foreign nationals living abroad will be allowed to join Britain's Armed Forces, the UK government is set to announce.

Currently, citizens from Commonwealth countries can only join if they have lived in the UK for five years.

But in a bid to recruit more servicemen and women to the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Ministry of Defence is lifting this rule.

The Armed Forces is short of 8,200 soldiers, sailors and air personnel, a report found earlier this year.

Ministers are expected to announce the change to recruitment rules on Monday.

It means people from Commonwealth countries - including Nigeria, Kenya, India and Australia - will be considered for roles, even if they have never lived in Britain.