OFFICERS of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR) are facing job cuts following the Government's recent shake-up of the Army.

Up to 140 officers and 195 non-commissioned infantry officers could go nationally.

It is not yet know how many from QLR will be affected but it is understood that letters calling for voluntary redundancies have already been sent to officers, in particular, those born between 1960 and 1974 and non-commissioned officers with 16-20 years service.

The news has been greeted with quiet resignation by members of the unit which has spent the last year fighting for its survival.

Lieutenant Colonel John Downham, regimental secretary to the QLR, said: "It does seem like they are kicking us while we're down but it wasn't completely unexpected because of the changes the Ministry of Defence are making."

In November, despite the widely supported Campaign to Save Lancashire's Regiment, it was announced that the unit was to merge with the King's Regiment to the south, and the King's Own Royal Border Regiment to the north to form a new super regiment.

"We will get through it like we have got through other things in the past, because we've had to," he added.

Lt Col Downham, who is retired from active service, said he believed the move would put more tension on already stretched resources.

He said: "We are already fully deployed in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq, which is the biggest deployment of our troops in peacetime.

"It seems odd that all this is happening at a time like this."

Preston's Labour MP, Mark Hendrick, who supported the campaign to save the QLR, said: "I think it was on the cards but it is still unclear on how much it will impact on the QLR until specific details are known. I think it's important to remain cautiously optimistic."

QLR, which has its regimental headquarters at Fulwood Barracks in Watling Street Road, is just one of the Army's 40 infantry regiments facing cuts under the plans to reduce regular army numbers to 102,000 as part of the Ministry of Defence's Future Army Structure plan.

The move is also likely to affect members of the King's Division Normandy Band, based at Weeton Barracks, near Kirkham.

An army spokesman said: "It is too early to anticipate how many, if any officers, from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment will be affected.

"It could just be a handful or more. We will know more in May."

Initially, voluntary redundancies are being sought but army chiefs say redundancies will be made compulsory if numbers fall short.

Those who accept the redundancy package will benefit from a tax-free compensation, which is estimated to cost British tax payer around £30million in total.