mTHE head of the campaign to save the identity of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment believes it has taken a major stride in its march to victory.

But Brigadier Geoffrey Sheldon said there is still more work to do before the Government makes its final decision over a controversial regimental reorganisation.

Brig Sheldon delivered the news to veteran troops at the annual Service of Remembrance celebrations in Warrington yesterday.

He said despite tense negotiations between the QLR and its neighbouring regiments, the badge and headquarters would remain, with Lancashire incorporated into a new title.

But he vowed to keep up the pressure on the Government to ensure the historic identitly of the QLR is not lost.

The campaign to save the regiment was launched after Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon revealed in July plans to merge three North West regiments into a region-wide force.

"We won't know for definite until December but it is starting to firm up from Whitehall that most of our demands have been met. We are optimistic," said Brig Sheldon.

"There are going to be changes but at the heart of that we will keep the same badge, keep the Lancashire name somehow and keep our headquarters in Preston, and that to us is a victory."

He also paid special tribute to dedicated campaigners in East Lancashire for help in protecting the regiment's identity.

"I have yet to come up with a way to express to the powers that be how much this has meant to everyone. The support has been fantastic, quite overwhelming.

"But we have to keep the pressure on. We want a regiment for the people of Lancashire with the lads and lasses of Lancashire, and if that waivers we will still descend on Number 10 with our petition, signed by hundreds of thousands of people."

The news follows talks with Manchester and Liverpool's King's Regiment and the King's Own Royal Borders in Cumbria. Without QLR in its title, army chiefs said the merger would damage links with the community and jeopardise recruitment.

Regimental secretary, retired Lt Col John Downham, said: "We are at a very delicate stage but we are quietly optimistic. Our friends in other regiments have already agreed to keep the badge and Lancashire name."

The service at Warrington Parish Church, the chapel adopted as the QLR's official chapel in 1970, was the 66th anniversary of the dedication of the 1914 to 1918 war memorial of the south Lancashire regiment.

Mayoral parties from Rossendale, Hyndburn and Blackburn joined in an emotional day for East Lancashire veterans, with a reorganisation still likely to see the QLR, in its present form, disappear.

Mayor of Hyndburn, Coun Miles Parkinson, said: "This service remembers those who have fallen in the name of freedom and to keep the identity of the QLR is a small part of keeping their memory alive."

Mayor of Rossendale, Coun June Forshaw, added: "It is so important to do right by the men and women who fought for everything we have today."