CAMPAIGNERS have declared victory in the fight to retain the Queen's Lancashire Regiment's 300-year identity after an amazing U-turn by Army bosses.

And the regiment today thanked the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and its readers for spearheading the fight to preserve the pride and history of the county's fighting force.

The QLR is being merged with the Carlisle-based King's Own Royal Border Regiment and the Liverpool-based King's Regiment as part of a streamlining of the armed services.

But Army announced in December that the new force would be called the King's Lancashire and Border Regiment, causing outrage amongst opponents.

They claimed the title diluted QLR's identity as Lancashire's county regiment and thousands of people backed an Evening Telegraph campaign against the move.

They included Brigadier Geoffrey Sheldon, colonel of QLR, who branded the new name "bizarre, perverse and absurd."

But the Evening Telegraph can reveal that, following pressure from regional colonels, including Brigadier Sheldon, the title has been changed to the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment - subject to Royal Assent from the Duke of Lancaster herself - the Queen.

The QLR would be the only one of the merged battalions recognised in the title.

An army source confirmed: "The Army Board has agreed to call the regiment the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment following the recommendation of the battalions' regional colonels.

"However the name will only be formerly approved if the Queen grants it Royal Assent - which we expect to be done within the next month or so."

The name change would signal a staggering change of heart from army bosses who had insisted the King's Lancashire and Border Regiment was here to stay.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said at the time: "There was a consultation period, during which colonels could feed into the process.

"The army board listened to what they said and, as far as we are aware, this is the final decision and there can be no appeal."

The new name is believed to have chosen because the Duke of Lancaster owns large holdings of land covering Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Cheshire known as the Dutchy of Lancaster.

And overjoyed members of The Queen's Lancashire Regiment said the name change was a victory for Evening Telegraph readers.

A spokesman said: "Morale of those fighting is vital and can be derived from a proud tradition to linkage with their home area. Whereas the last name was more like a list, this title provides all these things and is something all the regiments are happy with.

"The Duke of Lancaster's name represents our proud traditions, restores our proud link with the Monarch and retains our vital core identity within Lancashire. We are extremely pleased with support we've received from the public and media - particularly the Lancashire Evening Telegraph and its readers."

Also delighted was Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle, who had been lobbying the government to have a rethink over the super regiment's name.

He said: "My reaction is one of astonishment but relief that common sense has prevailed and that the importance of the county has been recognised," and added: "I congratulate the MOD for this apparent change of heart but had they listened in the first place then none of this would be necessary."

Corporal Simon Strickland, regimental secretary of the King's Own Royal Border Regiment welcomed the new name but stressed the Queen would have the deciding vote.

He said: "We do welcome this but are sad at the loss of our links with the Borders in this part of the world. However it must be stressed that the Queen, as Duke of Lancaster, has to approve the name and it is a matter very personal to her."

Nobody at the King's Regiment was available for comment.