AN historic link between Craven and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment could be severed under reforms of the British Army.

The area has always been proud of its association with the regiment, which has been recruiting from the old West Riding for more than 250 years with soldiers coming from Skipton, Settle and Barnoldswick.

However, under the proposals put forward by Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon regiments will be amalgamated into seven regionally based multi-battalion regiments.

It is feared that regiments could lose their individual identities and links with the areas they traditionally recruited from.

Craven's bond with the Dukes was fortified in 2002 when Craven District Council conferred honorary citizenship of the district upon the regiment.

In June 2002 the regiment led a spectacular parade through Skipton. With drums beating, bands playing and bayonets fixed, they marched through the town's streets to the delight of the crowds.

This week, current chairman of Craven District Council Coun John Alderson said: "The Duke of Wellington's Regiment has been recruiting its soldiers from Craven for 250 years. The idea of losing that association if the regiment was amalgamated, even with other Yorkshire-based regiments, is unthinkable."

He added that the Freedom of Craven District ceremony in 2002 was held to commemorate the regiment's 300th birthday and show the district's gratitude to the officers and men.

"The Freedom Ceremony was an absolutely wonderful occasion which finished with the regiment marching through the centre of Skipton. I am sure all those who were there will remember it well.

"The people of Craven would not readily forgive the loss of all those years of tradition if the Duke's regiment was to be amalgamated with others."

The regiment had earlier been given the freedom of Skipton in 1991.

Former Royal Marine Alex Bentley said he had served with soldiers from some of the regiments that could be disbanded.

He said: "What Tony Blair and his people don't realise is what that cap badge and the regiment mean to people. The regiment is a family and once you serve in a regiment you are part of it. They are undermining the morale of the whole British Forces."

Major David Harrap, of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, said: "We are an integral part of the heritage of the old West Riding.

"One of the reasons we are so successful is that we have developed very deep ties and what really worries me, looking at what is being proposed, is that the larger regiments are, the more they lose their identity."

Major Harrap added that it could make the army seem even more distant and removed from people and might prompt problems with recruitment.

"I think the architects of this have failed to understand the dynamics of what actually makes a local regiment work and why we are so successful," explained Major Harrap.