THE merger of North Yorkshire's historic regiments, based in Richmond and York, will be sealed within the next few weeks.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon will insist the shake-up must go ahead to cut waste and boost recruitment in Britain's remaining 19 single-regiment battalions.

It is likely that the Green Howards, based in Richmond, will be joined with the York-based Prince of Wales's Own Regiment. However, a merger of both with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment, based in Bradford, to create a 'super-Yorkshire' regiment of three battalions, is possible.

An MoD source said that stand-alone regiments were 'no longer acceptable' and described them as outdated relics of the Cold War era.

Insisting they were not responsive to 'expeditionary' operations such as Iraq, the source said: "The single-battalion regiments really have to bite the bullet.

Four battalions are set to be axed altogether, to reduce the total across the UK to 36. Three are expected to be in England and the remaining one in Scotland.

The 2,500 soldiers from the four disbanded battalions will be divided among the remaining 36, making them stronger.

All 36 surviving battalions would be available for action at all times. Currently, only about 27 regiments are on standby.