The TA changes are aimed at updating its role

The 41 bases in the region will remain open with new posts created at some centres, the government says.

The Parachute Regiment returns to the North West in St Helens, Merseyside, and a Royal Military Police base will be created in Belle Vue, Manchester.

In Lancashire, there will be 100 additional medical posts by making the current Chorley unit into a squadron.

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram announced the changes in the House of Commons on Thursday.

He said they are aimed at making the TA more relevant to today's world.

New squadron

Regionally, there will be 200 extra engineers' posts, with the creation of a new squadron at Failsworth, a new headquarters in Warrington and a detachment in Ashton-under-Lyne.

An existing detachment of Royal Engineers will move from St Helens to the Widnes centre.

Brigadier Jonathan Powe, the senior military commander in the North West, said: "These changes are necessary to ensure the TA is able to support ongoing and future operations undertaken by the British Army.

"The TA in the North West has a proud tradition of supporting operations.

"Since 2003, more than 1,200 TA soldiers from this region have deployed on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan."