A SHAKE-UP of the Army infantry which threatens the future of the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters is due to be announced later today.

After months of concern since defence secretary Geoff Hoon announced four of the 40 infantry battalions had to be scrapped, the Woofers will today learn their fate.

Mr Hoon was scheduled to address the Commons this afternoon to tell MPs which battalions would be axed.

He was also expected to outline sweeping changes to the structure of the remaining 36 battalions, which are likely to include the amalgamation of all single-battalion regiments such as the Woofers.

Defence chiefs are keen to save the Woofers from disbandment because of their high recruitment record.

Super-regiment

But the regiment is likely to be merged with the Cheshire and Staffordshire regiments to create a new Mercia "super-regiment".

Similar mergers will take place across the country.

Mr Hoon revealed in July that the shake-up was necessary to meet post-Cold War operational needs.

The moves wil also save millions of pounds and, the Ministry of Defence argues, give soldiers more stability.

Faced with the possibility of extinction, senior figures within the Woofers are thought to have told the Army Board they would be prepared to undertake the merger.

The Army Board met last week to decide what form the restructuring would take and Mr Hoon had been expected to inform the Commons on Monday.

But last-minute discussions have taken place at Cabinet level this week which have delayed the announcement until today.