THE new colonel of the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers Regiment should find the post less demanding than some of his previous roles.

For Lt Col David Sanderson, who has taken on the role at Kimberley Barracks in Preston, was second-in-command of the 1st Battalion, the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, and served in Omagh at the time of the bomb on August 15, 1999.

Lt Col Sanderson has also served in Cyprus, Germany, Berlin, Jamaica and Namibia, where he was awarded the MBE for his distinguished service as officer commanding of the training team, based on the Angolan border.

The married father-of-two has previously served at Kimberley Barracks in 1987-90, when he was Adjutant of the 4th Battalion, the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, which was amalgamated with the 4th Battalion, the King's Own Royal Border Regiment last year -- to form the LCV.

He said: "It is with great pride that I assume command of the Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers. Having served as the Adjutant of the then 4QLR in 1988, I was delighted to return to Lancashire , to an area I know and cherish dearly. Whilst much has changed, not least the Battalion has amalgamated with out neighbours to the north, the people have not, and I have been given a warm welcome by all those I have met."

His predecessor, Col Mike Shearman, has gone on to join the Army Presentation Team, which travels around the country giving exhibitions on current issues and policies.