THE EVENING Telegraph today launches its campaign to save Lancashire's only remaining regiment.

From the blood-stained trenches of the Somme to the searing, dusty heat of north Africa the county's soldiers have given years of glorious service.

Now, after an impressive military history stretching over 300 years, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment is under threat from a defence review.

Forcing it to join with other regiments would mean the loss of an exclusively Lancashire fighting force for the first time since 1689.

Losing the county's name or incorporating it with the names of other counties would dilute the unique Lancashire spirit which makes the regiment so special and sully centuries of achievement.

The final decision on the regiment's future is expected to be made by Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon in November.

Now we want you, our loyal readers, to help.

Yes, the QLR has had its bad days -- most notably some isolated allegations relating to the death and ill-treatment of Iraqis during last year's conflict.

But they should not be allowed to blacken a proud and honourably history.

We want our readers to fill in the coupon which can be found in today's Lancashire Evening telegraph and send it to us so we can deliver them directly to the people making the decisions.

Evening Telegraph editor Kevin Young, said: "The Queen's Lancashire Regiment has over 300 years of glorious history.

"Ideally we would like to see the QLR remain intact but at the very least any new merged regiment should carry the Lancashire name and should not incorporate the names of other counties.

"Hundreds of Lancastrians have fought shoulder to shoulder as Lancashire lads for generations.

"The unique Lancashire spirit must not die."

Colonel David Black, campaign co-ordinator for the QLR, said: "We are extremely grateful indeed to the Lancashire Evening Telegraph for mounting this campaign because it is only through campaigns such as these we can hope to have any success."

Our campaign is also being supported by leaders from Omagh in Co Tyrone, where soldiers from the QLR helped out in the aftermath of the Omagh bombing in 1998.

Coun Thomas Buchanan, is a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Northern Ireland and vice-chairman of Omagh District Council.

He said: "I am dismayed at the plans to amalgamate many of the regiments within the British Army.

"These regiments have served their country loyally throughout many conflicts and campaigns.

"The 1st Queen's Lancashire Regiment were based in Omagh at the time of the Omagh Atrocity in 1998 and their help was invaluable. The people of the Omagh District owe the regiment a tremendous debt of gratitude.

"I have no hesitation adding my support to the Evening Telegraph's campaign to assist 1QLR maintain its status as an individual regiment within Her Majesty's Armed Forces." The MOD strongly denies that the reorganisation is designed to save the Treasury money.

It insists it wants to "reshape" the Army into modern fighting units, capable of meeting the demands of modern warfare scenarios.

Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle has put a Commons Motion down on the issue.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted that the Lancashire Evening Telegraph is championing the cause of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment and fighting to ensure that the links with Lancashire and the Pals who originally formed the regiments from the area will remain. The support of the public and newspapers is vital to stop the loss of 300 years of county military history."

Hyndburn MP Greg Pope said: "It is vital that this historic name survives and I will do all I can to stop it being merged into another unit.

"My grandfather fought at Paschaendale and Ypres with one of the predecessor regiments to the QLR and I know he would want the Lancashire connection to remain. We must not besmirch the memory of the Accrington Pals who fought in World War One -- also one of the predecessors to the QLR -- by taking away the Lancashire name and connections of this regiment."

Blackburn MP Jack Straw said: "I fully support Geoff Hoon in his efforts to modernise the structure of the armed forces.

"But I will be striving during the consultation on the future shape of the military to ensure that the historic links between East Lancashire and the army are retained."