Lancashire soldiers' hopes of returning home early from war-torn Iraq have been dashed following an escalation in violence.

The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment flew out to Basra in November for a six month peace-keeping tour.

A month earlier, Prime Minister Gordon Brown had said that the number of British troops in Iraq would be reduced in the new year, following the handover of power to native forces in December.

A hundred soldiers from the First Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster's returned early in January, and their fellow 500 troops had hoped to be following them by now.

But an increase in violence has led the plan to cut troop numbers to be halted, Defence Secretary Des Browne told the House of Commons this week.

The family of one Burnley soldier spoke of their disappointment and frustration over the situation, and said they had "given up listening to what anyone in officialdom says" about the situation in Iraq.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that there was never any certainty of early return, and the soldiers have known for weeks that they would be in Iraq for their full tour.

Mr Browne told MPs that events in Basra over the last week had led the Government to "reconsider" its plans: "In the light of the last week's events, it is prudent that we pause any further reductions while the current situation is unfolding."

Barbara Whittam's grandson Kingsman Gary Davies, 23, is in Basra on his first operational deployment.

Mrs Whittam, from Fulledge in Burnley, said: "It is disappointing because we had hoped he would be home earlier, but we accept that he'll be home when the job's done.

"It's worrying of course because things are bad there at the moment, with lots of bombing, but we always worry anyway, all we can do is hope that he comes back safe and well whenever it is they're brought back."

She added: "Gary's been told several different dates when he's meant to be coming back, it keeps changing and I think he and the lads are fed up with it "I've given up listening to what MPs say, they're all at home and not out there."

An MoD spokesman said: "The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment will come home in early June, as originally scheduled.

"The soldiers were told mid-March that they will serve their full tour as planned, in order to realistically manage the expectations ofsoldiers and their families.

"I know that after some from the First Battalion returned early there was some thinking that other troops would, but it was only speculation."

More soldiers will be sent to take over from the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment when they return to the UK.