Mass rally against regiment cut

Geoff Hoon announced spending cuts in the forces in the summer

Campaigners fighting to save a Yorkshire regiment from being disbanded are marching through the town of Halifax on Saturday.

The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, which is the county regiment for West and South Yorkshire, is under threat due to spending cuts.

Campaign leader Brigadier Dick Mundell said: "It is wrong to be reducing the Army at this time."

A final decision on whether to disband the unit will be announced in December.

Mr Mundell said he would fight for the regiment's identity to be kept within a new larger Yorkshire Regiment which is expected to be created.

"We are an integral living part of the heritage and identity of West and South Yorkshire and the Craven Valley.

"We should not be consigned to history for the sake of expediency."

MPs Christine McCafferty and Alice Mahon will attend the rally as well as civic dignitaries from across the county.