The historic Duke of Wellington's Regiment has agreed for the first time to merge with other Yorkshire regiments to form a new "super-battalion", the Telegraph & Argus understands.

Colonels from Britain's 19 single-battalion regiments yesterday told the Ministry of Defence's Army Board that amalgamation was preferable to extinction, said Westminster sources.

It means the Duke of Wellington's regiment, which recruits in Bradford and Keighley, could merge with the North Yorkshire-based Green Howards and Prince of Wales' Own Regiment.

The Army Board - in charge of the Army's management - will now take on board the colonels' comments and decide on the regiments' future in mid-December.

The source said: "The regiments had been asked to come up with a solution as to how they would amalgamate or join together, under the Government's plans. I know that as far as the Duke of Wellington's Regiment is concerned, it looks extremely likely it could be amalgamated to form a "super-battalion" in Yorkshire. ts future as a single, independent regiment is under grave threat."

The source said the regiments had been left with no choice other than to consider a merger because Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon had made clear he would cull them instead of retaining single battalions. Mr Hoon believes "super-battalions" will cut costs and aid recruitment.

But the Yorkshire regiments are determined to keep their traditional cap-badges, colours and traditions.

Top brass in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment want the name to be included in the new battalion title.

On Monday, a 3,000-signature protest petition calling for the Dukes to be saved was presented to Mr Hoon.

It was started by Keighley woman Mary Lister and she received support from Calder Valley MP Christine McCafferty and Keighley MP Ann Cryer.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "The proposals are under review and have gone out to consultation. A decision is not expected until the end of the year."

Soldiers in the Duke of Wellington's Regiment have come under fire within days of being sent to Iraq to help control Basra.

Troops in the first battalion were involved in a firefight in the country's second city on Tuesday but there were no casualties in the battle.