A PETITION of nearly 30,000 signatures has landed on the doorstep of 10 Downing Street from residents in North Lancashire to help preserve the identity of a historic infantry regiment.

The signatures piled up after Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon, recently announced that he was planning a full-scale shake up of the armed forces.

He aims to cut the number of infantry battalions from 40 to 36, putting the King's Own Royal Border Regiment, which recruits from North Lancashire and Cumbria at risk.

Response It is feared that the North West region is likely to be affected by the restructuring, which could see the KORBR amalgamated with other North West Regiments such as the Queen's Lancashire and The Royal Cheshire.

A petition was launched throughout the KORBR's recruiting area voicing concern at the regiment's potential loss of identity.

But Major Michael Brandwood, the regimental spokesman said that he was yet to hear of any response from the government more than a week after the petition was submitted.

"The Government cannot fail to ignore the wishes of nearly 30,000 petitioners, so I would expect that a response would be forth coming," he says.

In the meantime he urged people to write to their local MPs showing their concern at the planned shake-ups.

A meeting with MPs from across the recruiting area may take place in October to try to formulate a strategy in protecting the regiment.