DEFENCE chiefs have told MPs there is little chance of a rethink on the proposed army mergers which would lead to the abolition of the Queen Lancashire Regiment.

But at a meeting yesterday they offered a token of comfort that the traditions, cap badge and special uniforms of the QLR could be preserved in a larger North West regiment.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and his head of the military General Sir Michael Walker appeared before the House of Commons Defence Committee, the all-party group of MPs which monitors their work.

Mr Hoon said modernisation of the army to meet the various new threats of the 21st Century was vital.

He told the MPs: "We cannot do this with 19 single battalion regiments.''

Today supporters of the QLR remained defiant that they were as "determined as ever" to preserve the Lancashire identity.

A QLR spokesperson said: "What we are determined to fight for is the identity specific to Lancashire is preserved. We still need to see more being done to recruit more soldiers and cap badges would not be enough. It does not go far enough."

In an earlier debate on modernising the armed forces Mr Hoon said the case for regimental mergers was "undeniable''. He also revealed the final decision after a period of consultation would be taken "by the end of the year".

The Defence Secretary told the Committee that he could not see why "the accoutrements and traditions'' of the regiments like the QLR who are facing merger could not be preserved in the multi-battalion unit that would replace it and other North-West regiments.

He was backed up by Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Michael who said his own regiment the Anglians was a merger of the Norfolks and Suffolks but the traditions of both had been preserved and celebrated in the new unit. The military boss said the army had been nudged steadily towards modernisation with several multi-battalion regiments, such as the Parachute Regiment, already in place.

Mr Hoon told the MPs: "Half the army have moved to a more modern structure. Half the army has not moved to a more modern structure. They need to do so.''

Both men stressed that the new structure would stop soldiers and their families being moved every two years affecting their stability and security and also ensuring that more battalions were available for service.

They denied that the changes - which would cut the total number of infantry by 2,500 - would harm operational capability.

The reduction was made possible by the reduced need to station four battalions in Northern Ireland.