Keighley MP Kris Hopkins has dismissed speculation that a decision has been made to cut the 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment. Army numbers are to shrink from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2020 under the defence review.

But Mr Hopkins, a former soldier, said he had received top-level assurances that there was no final ruling about where the axe would fall.

Mr Hopkins served with the Duke of Wellington’s prior to its amalgamation with other regiments to form 3 Yorks.

He said: “I have spoken to the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond, and received a personal assurance that no final decisions on the future of any Army regiments have been taken.”