THE Royal Lancashire Regiment could be the new name for the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR) if proposals to merge it with two other regiments are given the go-ahead.

Regiment chiefs of the King's Own Royal Borders Regiment based in Cumbria and The King's Regiment, based in Merseyside and Cheshire met last Wednesday to thrash out a name. The Royal Lancashire Regiment was one of the names most favoured by army officials.

A source close to the regiment said: "The name had been decided but then one of the them said they needed more time to think about it. It is an excellent choice of name and one I think would be looked upon favourably by the regiment."

Mark Hendrick, MP for Preston, said: "It takes the royal element from both Kings' regiments and the Lancashire from the QLR.

"I think it's a great name."