THE Government faced fresh anger last night after it announced a new review of allegations of abuse and bullying at the Army's Deepcut Barracks but stopped short of the full public inquiry demanded by families and MPs.

Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said he would be appointing a fully independent figure to carry out the review, following the disclosure that police received more than 170 claims of mistreatment at the base.

He was forced to act after police documents were leaked to the media outlining accounts of rape, indecent assault and degrading humiliation of women soldiers.

But the review failed to meet demands for a full public inquiry made by the families of four soldiers, including Private Geoff Gray, of Seaham, County Durham, who died of gunshot wounds at Deepcut.

The soldiers' parents have joined others across the UK, including families from Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, to form a pressure group, Deepcut and Beyond, to campaign for a public inquiry.

Mr Ingram said the review would not be allowed to prejudice ongoing investigations, suggesting it would not even examine some of the deaths.

He also rejected calls for it to sit in public, with the powers to demand documents and summon witnesses.

Pte Gray's mother, Diane, accused Mr Ingram of trying to keep the families quiet.

She said: "I don't think this review is going to give us what we want, so we will continue to press for a public inquiry."

Lynn Farr, whose son, Daniel, died at Catterick Garrison in 1997, has written to North Yorkshire Chief Constable Della Cannings to demand a police investigation into allegations of abuse at the base in light of the latest revelations at Deepcut.

A Northern Echo investigation found a catalogue of abuse, deaths and bullying at Catterick going back 20 years.

Ms Farr said: "We hear of abuse, non-combat deaths and bullying all the time, but it is not just at Deepcut, it is at barracks across the country, including Catterick Garrison, and we want a public inquiry into what is happening in the British Army.

"Due to the amount of statements taken, the number and type of accusations and the continuing occurrences at Catterick, I would like to call on North Yorkshire Police to hold a similar investigation into Catterick with the most vulnerable at the Infantry Training Centre."

Last night, it emerged that another soldier had alleged he was bullied by a corporal while stationed at Catterick.

Private Craig Coates, 21, of the Dorset and Devon Regiment, said his jaw was broken in two places, and he has plates in his face after a soldier attacked him in bed.

The allegations are being investigated by Royal Military Police officers.

His father, Leslie Coates, said his son, who has been signed off sick with anxiety and depression, is refusing to return to the base following the attack. He said the matter had been reported to Mr Ingram's office who said they would look into the claims.

Mr Coates said the family was frustrated by the lack of progress in the inquiry after the attack in June and said his son had only been visited by police officers two weeks ago.

A spokeswoman for Catterick said: "We can confirm Pte Craig Coates has made an allegation of bullying.

"There is an ongoing investigation by the Royal Military Police. There is zero tolerance of bullying and allegations will be thoroughly investigated and action taken where necessary."

The Ministry of Defence was unable to confirm if anyone had been suspended during the inquiries.