THE ‘Year of the Lion’ will see a 12-month celebration of the North West's army regiment.

It is now five years since the creation of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

And to mark the landmark, and also the fact that many of the battalions saw action in Afghanistan last year, a year of celebrations is to take place.

A series of events will see parades in Bolton and Kendal, open days at local barracks, an anniversary ball in Liverpool, and a family festival.

The Regiment, known as the Lions of England, recently completed a homecoming march in Blackburn, Lancaster, Carlisle, Warrington and Manchester and a freedom parade through Clitheroe.

It recruits exclusively from Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and the Isle of Man.

Lt Dan Brooks said: “This year is a very important one for the regiment.

"The time is now right to mark the new regiment.

“On top of the joint heritage that all of the previous regiments had, we can now be proud of our own regiment’s achievements.

“We have now deployed to Afghanistan and proven our worth, not that it was ever in doubt.”

The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment is the North West’s infantry battalion, with a headquarters in Fulwood, Preston.

A six-month tour of duty from April last year saw the 1st Battalion complete Operation Mostarak, or big push, against the Taliban.

Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion also served last year in the war zone, while part-time Territorial Army troops from the 4th Battalion returned from a tour of duty in November.

Last week a number of soldiers from the regiment were given bravery awards.

Lt Brooks said: “The lion is part of our cap badge and we are proud to call ourselves the Lions of England.

"This year we want to thank everyone in the North West for their support and to really raise our profile under our new name.”