BICESTER’S new £70m town centre development is to be named Pioneer Centre to honour the town’s links to the Army.

The move comes months after 23 Pioneer Regiment, based at St David’s Barracks, Bicester, was told it would be disbanded as part of the Defence cuts.

Seventy soldiers have so far been made redundant and more will follow before the regiment ceases to exist by October 2015.

But in a tribute to the 600-strong regiment, which has been based in Bicester since the Second World War, the name will live on.

Commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel David Clouston said: “The regiment feels both humbled and proud that the people of Bicester have honoured us.”