THE battle to save the Fusiliers is over after controversial plans to disband their second battalion were given the go-ahead.

The future of the Bury-based 2nd battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2RRF), has now been decided, and it will be disbanded under government plans to replace 20,000 regular soldiers with 30,000 reservists.

Former Fusiliers have formed an honour guard and paraded outside the gates of 10 Downing Street to coincide with the weekly meeting of the cabinet since February 2013.

But they will now stop their protest after the plans were given royal assent, with the Defence Reform Bill becoming the Defence Reform Act.

The campaign has seen the mother of murdered Fusilier Lee Rigby travel to London to add her family’s support.

Emotions have run high during the campaign - retired Colonel Ian Brazier of 2RRF interrupted defence secretary Philip Hammond’s speech at last year’s Conservative Party conference, calling him a “disgrace”.