A PERMANENT memorial to the Accrington Pals is set to take shape at one of the town's new health centres.

To date there has been no lasting tribute to the soldiers of the courageous unit, which recruited across East Lancashire.

But now the new primary care centre in Paradise Street will be named after the historic regiment, East Lancashire Primary Care Trust's (PCT) board has decided.

And the Pals modern-day forebears, the Duke of Lancaster Regiment have confirmed they will provide a display detailing the background to the unit's supreme sacrifice.

More than 700 young troops from Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley and surrounding areas, all members of the 11th (Service) Battalion, lost their lives at the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

The efforts of the First World War troops are recalled every February during a special memorial service in the town.

PCT human resources director Janet Whitworth questioned the merits of associating the new centre with the military, given recent events in Iraq and the cultural make-up of East Lancashire.

But chairman Kathy Reade said: "There is nowhere where people can remember the Accrington Pals. That (objection) is a bit tenuous I would have thought but it is everyone's personal opinion."