DEFENCE chiefs were staying tightlipped over speculation the historic Green Howards army regiment is facing the axe.

Reports that the 316-year-old regiment, based at Richmond, is locked in a survival battle with London's 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers were "pure speculation", said the Ministry of Defence.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is reducing the number of British battalions from 40 to 36 under radical proposals to cut waste and boost recruitment.

The Army has already identified three regiments for the chop - two in England and one in Scotland.

But the Green Howards or the 2nd Fusiliers are under threat because they are struggling to attract soldiers. A final decision will be made next month.

John Greenway, the Tory MP for Ryedale, said: "We should not be making these cuts while the Army is engaged in Iraq. But if the Green Howards is the one to go, we will fight this tooth and nail."

Campaigners would like to see the Green Howards, the York-based Prince of Wales's Own Regiment and the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, based in Halifax, merged to form a three-battalion Yorkshire Regiment.

The MoD is known to be keen to retain the famous names, traditions and uniforms of regiments, something it achieved in previous amalgamations.

Updated: 10:48 Monday, November 29, 2004