SOLDIERS from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment will miss Remembrance Day services in the county for the first time in 30 years because of tensions in Iraq.

But soldiers from East Lancashire are planning a poignant tribute to fallen soldiers from World War One while they are on duty away from home.

The regiment, which has its headquarters at Fulwood Barracks, Preston, is serving in the southern city of Basra trying to restore law and order to the streets.

But the Allied campaign has been frustrated by a series of terrorist attacks and an underground campaign of resistance.

The regiment includes soldiers from Blackburn, Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale and the Ribble Valley and has been caught up in rioting over fuel and power shortages.

The regiment today said it wanted to send representatives to the ceremonies, but it will not be back in the county in time. Instead, it intends to send representatives from its part-time territorial brigade and is planning a march through Preston on November 12.

And soldiers will honour 1,200 Lancashire soldiers buried in the Iraq who died fighting the Turkish Ottoman Empire during World War One.

A Royal British Legion spokesman said: "It would have been nice to have soldiers back in time for the services, but we all know what's going on in Iraq and it's just one of those things."

A regiment battalion was due to arrive back in Britain in early November in time for the services that commemorate the lives of soldiers who died in past conflicts.

A battalion will still leave for Iraq before November 11 to relieve soldiers already there, but no full time soldiers will be home for the services.

Colonel Mike Glover explained: "The plan was that the battalion would come back at the beginning of November and that would allow members to attend services all over Lancashire. It would have been nice to allow the lads to attend the services in their own towns after just coming back from what has been a particularly hard tour.

"Our connection with Lancashire is our lifeblood. These soldiers are Lancashire's finest and the regiment's strength is its link with the county.

"A number of soldiers expressed an interest in attending their local memorial services.

"The services are as important to us as they are to the local community because it reminds us what it is all about."

Blackburn and Darwen Mayor councillor Mike Barrett added: "We all follow what is reported in the newspapers and on television and know only too well the situation in Iraq is very difficult.

"Soldiers from this borough and region are still serving in very demanding conditions over there.

"I am led to believe as a consequence they will not be able to take part in our Remembrance Day commemorations which is regrettable, but I am sure we recognise the importance of the work they are doing over there."