CAMPAIGNERS who fought to preserve the memory of the Accrington Pals are backing the Evening Telegraph's bid to save Lancashire's only regiment.

The Pals, a battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment, which merged with others to eventually form the QLR, were the heroes of the First World War and made huge sacrifices at the Battle of the Somme.

Their historical connection with Lancashire regiments is massive and many see the threat to the QLR as a threat to that history.

The Evening Telegraph launched its campaign to keep intact the Lancashire spirit of the QLR.

And to date hundreds of people have signed up to our pledge by filling in our coupons.

Coun Win Frankland, former Mayor of Hyndburn, whose grandfather, Joseph Hanson, signed up to the East Lancashire Regiment in 1917, said: "I certainly don't want to see them go and neither does anybody else.

"When I was mayor last year, we went to a lot of the QLR events and they are a fantastic regiment.

"The QLR is the best recruited regiment in the army with around 98 per cent of them coming from Lancashire.

"We have a fight on our hands but I am sure the more we make a fuss the more likely they are to take notice of us.

"It is our regiment and it is like a family."