FEW subjects have aroused such strong feelings right across East Lancashire in recent years as the threat to the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

Thousands of you from all walks of life have been unanimous in condemning any move to eradicate centuries of glorious history by merging the regiment and removing its identity.

An outcry over similar plans to merge Scottish regiments including the Black Watch while they fight bravely on the front line in Iraq has turned the matter into a political hot potato.

Today we hear via Carlisle's MP a claim that a North West deal might have been already been done in private with the commanding officers of two out of the affected three North West regiments voting in favour of a new name for a "super regiment" covering the QLR, the Liverpool-based King's regiment and the Cumbrian Kings Own Royal Borderers.

The new multi-battalion fighting unit - based on the same idea as the Parachute Regiment - would apparently be called the Royal Lancashire Regiment.

Public opinion has made it quite clear that the QLR's name should remain - and that remain their overwhelming preference.

But if military pressure for a merger proves irresistible perhaps this title is the second best option.