The petition to save Rutland as a ceremonial county has been submitted to parliament. 

Almost one in six Rutlanders physically signed MP Alicia Kearns' appeal to ensure the name of Rutland remains in the local government shake up that is coming around the corner. 

Rutland is one of the oldest counties in the country and has a lord lieutenant. The MP wants the government to guarantee that if the county council is lost in the reorganisation that it retains its lord lieutenancy. 

A total of 7,141 people put pen to paper and signed the petition which was hosted in a number of pubs across the county and in the MP's Oakham office. This is 17 per cent of Rutland's 41,000 population. 

It was one of the biggest wet signature (not online) petitions handed in to Westminster this century. 

Mrs Kearns (Con) said: "This presentation marks the culmination of six weeks of community spirit and determination. 

"Whilst online petitions achieve tens of thousands of signatures in days, it is deeply uncommon for physically signed petitions to reach over a few hundred, so the size of our petition is a real tribute to our communities. 

"What Government doesn't understand is the unintended consequences of the local council re-organisation mean that without a small law change, Rutland's ceremonial county status will not be protected – we are the only county in this situation. 

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"That is why I have fought to bring this petition to Parliament, until we receive the assurances we need from Government with a specific action plan for how to save our ceremonial county status." 

The Labour government wants to replace the current two-tier district and borough system with new larger unitary councils, which will be responsible for all services currently delivered by county and borough councils. 

Rutland County Council has said its preferred new arrangement is with North Leicestershire and Melton, but an alternative proposal has been put forward by South Kesteven District Council which would see it merge with its North neighbour and South Holland and Rutland. This has been the popular choice in two public meetings held by the MP. Final submissions will be submitted in November and a public consultation will take place.