THE Duke of Wellington Regiment has called on Craven District Council to help it in its fight for survival.

The future of the Dukes has hung in the balance since the Government announced proposals to amalgamate regiments - prompting fears that its identity and strong ties with Craven would be lost.

The Dukes has been recruiting from the old West Riding for more than 250 years, training soldiers from towns like Skipton, Settle and Barnoldswick.

Next week Craven District councillors will discuss making representations to MP David Curry and other North Yorkshire MPs to try to safeguard the future of the Dukes and two other Yorkshire regiments.

Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, of the Duke of Wellington Regiment, has written a letter to Gill Dixon, Craven's chief executive, calling for the council's backing.

In the letter he said he knew that changes would be made and he hoped this would be the formation of a new Yorkshire regiment comprising three battalions - the Dukes, The Prince of Wales Own and the Green Howards.

He said: "Within our discussions I have placed great emphasis on achieving a result which will enable us to retain our name and our traditional home recruiting area links because, not only the soldiers in the battalion want it, but I believe it will be important for all those in West and South Yorkshire and the Craven valley who value our contribution to the community, not least as a major employer of our young men."

Chairman of Craven District Council, John Alderson said: "The Dukes has a wonderful history and Craven is an important part of that. We must do all we can to ensure that the regiment's name and customs, and its ties to our district are kept for future generations to be a part of."

In 2002 the Dukes led a spectacular parade through Skipton when Craven District Council conferred honorary citizenship of the district upon the regiment.

It had been given the freedom of Skipton in 1991.

A 2,000-strong Save the Dukes petition was presented to defence secretary Geoff Hoon on Monday. Now a mass rally of supporters and former Dukes is planned for Sunday November 7 in Keighley Town Hall.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon wants to reduce the number of regiments nationwide from 40 to 36.