The Duke of Wellington's regimental name has been saved.

It was announced yesterday that "The Dukes" has been merged with two other regiments to form a new Yorkshire regiment.

By becoming the third battalion of the Yorkshire Regiment, it means "The Dukes'" name will live on.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced the wide-ranging structural changes to the British Army in Parliament yesterday. They will see the number of infantry battalions reduced from 40 to 36.

There was relief when it was confirmed "The Dukes" will merge with the The Prince of Wales' Own and The Green Howards to form The Yorkshire Regiment.

The three battalions will each have their own identity -- with "The Dukes" being known as the Third Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's).

The Halifax-based regiment has strong links with Keighley and has a Territorial Army company based in Lawkholme Lane.

Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, Colonel of the Duke of Wellington's regiment, feared the cuts could have been worse.

He said: "My reaction is one of considerable relief that we have a battalion of three Yorkshire regiments and not two regiments.

"The public support we have had from Keighley and the rest of Yorkshire has made a dramatic effect. I am grateful for the support in Keighley which has been magnificent."

Along with the colonels of the two other regiments, he will decide the future of the new regiment, including cap badges and sleeve badges.

Major General Webb-Carter added: "What we must now concentrate on is getting a good start. We have to make sure we keep good links with our traditional recruiting areas."

Brigadier Richard Dennis, commander of the 15th North East Brigade, will also be involved with shaping the new regiment's future.

He said: "Reducing these three regiments to two would have been a tragedy.

"Retaining the distinct identities, I believe, is a very positive step forward, but clearly there are those who would have liked to have seen no change at all."

Keighley MP Ann Cryer was also delighted the Dukes' name would live on.

She said: "This is exactly what the Dukes have asked for and this is what they've got.

"I am absolutely delighted that the secretary of state for defence has announced these measures that meet the request given to him by the regiment itself."

Since the proposed cuts were first announced earlier this year, campaigners in Keighley have been fighting to maintain the regiment.

Mary Lister, whose brother Lance Cpl Tommy Thompson is currently in Iraq with the Dukes, has been leading the fight.

She was in the Volunteer Arms, Lawkholme Lane, Keighley, to listen to Mr Hoon's decision. She said: "I am devastated. Absolutely disgusted. I am really angry with this Government because they have not listened to its voters at all. But they would have been lynched if they had tried to do away with the name." Despite the news, she vowed to continue her fight.

With her was Dukes veteran Dennis Bailey. He served with the regiment for three years during the Second World War.

Mr Bailey, 86, from East Morton, said: "I think this is absolutely devastating. It is such an old regiment. Why they need to break it up I don't understand. It is a mystery.

"I think the Dukes should stop as the Dukes. But keeping their name is better than completely going."

In a statement Mr Hoon said: "These plans will make the army more robust and resilient, able to deploy, support and sustain the enduring expeditionary operations that are essential for a more complex and uncertain world. The move to larger, multi-battalion regiments that these changes bring about is the only sustainable way in which to structure the infantry for the long term."

He added the changes would create more stability and a more settled life for service personnel and their families.

The Territorial Army and reserves will also be further integrated with the regular army and be reduced from 15 to 14 battalions. A decision on the reshuffle of the TA is expected to be made by June next year.

Other changes included The King's Own Royal Border Regiment, the King's Regiment and the Queen's Lancashire Regiment merging to form two new battalions within the new King's Lancashire and Border Regiment.