Army chiefs are investigating an alleged punch-up on Remembrance Sunday in which it is claimed a man had his poppy ripped off by a uniformed soldier.

Customers at the Derby Arms pub, Eaves Lane, Chorley, witnessed a violent disturbance involving Territorial Army troops and two pub regulars who it is claimed were attacked.

One drinker, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals, said: "I have never seen behaviour like it.

"The man, who had been to the Remembrance Day commemorations to remember his fellow comrades who fought, was treated like a piece of dirt.

"They tore his poppy off his jacket as if he did not mean anything to them. They were a disgrace to their regiment."

Another customer, who asked not to be named, said: "There was a mixed group of Territorial Army people in uniform who I presume had been parading. They were very drunk and one or two of them became abusive and violent." She said they attacked a regular, leaving a boot mark on his chest, and added: "At that point an older man who was at the bar stood up and told them 'you're a disgrace to the uniform'.

"He was then attacked by one of the men, who ripped off his poppy in the scuffle. It was shameful, especially on a day when people are remembering the war dead."

Graham Archer, landlord of the Derby Arms, confirmed there had been a disturbance in the pub that night. He said: "I didn't see what started it all and it spilled over to the outside of the pub and was dying down when the police arrived.

"We have been running the pub for six months now and this is the first hint of trouble we have had."

A spokesperson for Chorley Police said: "It is believed there were TA lads behaving disrespectfully in the Derby Arms and were ejected.

"Police were called out at around 8.45pm because there was a disturbance outside the pub. No one was arrested, no one was taken to hospital and we do not have any records of any victims."

John Salisbury-Baker, information officer for the British Army, could not say which detachment the soldiers were from. But he confirmed that a formal investigation into to the matter was already being carried out.

He said: "A formal investigation into the matter has been launched and the CO will be talking to the individuals concerned."