A DECISION on the fate of historic infantry regiments in North Yorkshire will be announced by Christmas, the head of the Army has confirmed.

General Sir Mike Jackson, Chief of the General Staff, acknowledged the prospect of losing four regiments had caused "emotional pain".

Unpopular proposals to scrap two historic North Yorkshire army regiments have caused concern across the region.

The Ministry of Defence plans to merge all 19 single-regiment battalions into larger regional "super-battalions" - to cut costs and boost recruitment numbers.

It is understood military chiefs would probably amalgamate the North Yorkshire-based Green Howards and Prince of Wales's Own Regiment with the Halifax-based Duke of Wellington's Regiment.

Giving evidence to the Commons Defence Committee, Sir Mike said the restructuring was essential to make the most efficient use of the infantry.

The unpopular plans - announced last year - to cut four single-battalion regiments and amalgamate others has proved hugely controversial, particularly in Scotland where one of the six Scottish regiments is facing the axe.

Sir Mike acknowledged that the reorganisation was controversial.

He said that the Army Board had previously considered similar plans but shied away in the face of public opposition.

"I understand and sympathise hugely with the emotional pain which this re-structuring brings with it.

"I would not be wishing that on anybody if there was no point to it," he said.

However he criticised the lack of "intellectual analysis" in the arguments put forward by opponents of the plan.

And he said were largely an "emotional reaction" to the proposals.

While he accepted that many retired regimental members were opposed to the changes, he said that the restructuring was largely welcomed by serving soldiers.

"My sense of the serving Army view of all of this is to get on with it.

"They understand pretty much the logic that lies behind these moves," he said.

He said that the re-structuring would mean fewer upheavals for infantry families and that valuable expertise would not be lost through the regular re-rolling of regiments.

Tories have already said that they would ditch plans to scrap the two county regiments.

Unveiling plans to spend £2.7 billion more on defence than Labour, shadow defence secretary Nicholas Soames said last month: "Conservatives will reverse the cuts in our over-stretched front-line forces announced by the Government.

"We will provide for streamlined logistics, efficient equipment procurement and for slimming bureaucracy."

Updated: 10:38 Friday, November 05, 2004