Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said there rumours of cutbacks were untrue

The confirmation came during a debate in the House of Commons on the state of Britain's armed forces on Thursday.

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said there was no truth in rumours of cutbacks.

Colchester Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell said: "Would he care to comment on the suggestion that the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Anglians is to be disbanded?

"Is he aware that the Royal Anglians is the only regiment which recruits across the nine counties of the east of England?"

Their (the regiment's) recent efforts in maintaining peace and stability in Afghanistan is a clear demonstration of their professionalism Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram

Mr Ingram replied that there were no plans to disband Royal Anglian battalions.

"The Royal Anglians are a well-respected regiment in the British Army.

"Their recent efforts in maintaining peace and stability in Afghanistan is a clear demonstration of their professionalism."

Conservative MP Patrick Mercer, of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, suggested earlier this week that the Army wanted to expand infantry battalions to improve intelligence, surveillance and target reconnaissance capabilities.

However, there have been calls for force reductions to provide the necessary funding to achieve these goals, and it was suspected that the regiment was to go.

Historically, the Surrey-based Royal Anglian Regiment has links with Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, as it recruits from the east of England.