THEY came from all areas of the country but their purpose was the same.

Clutching photographs of their loved ones, relatives of dead soldiers took their fight to Parliament yesterday.

They united in protest at the Government's refusal to hold a public inquiry into the deaths of soldiers, including the Deepcut Four, and recruits who died at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

A number of families travelled from the North-East on board a battle bus adorned with banners and placards reading 'Public Inquiry Now' and 'Truth, Justice, Change.'

Liz McManus, mother of Derek McGregor, who was found hanged at Catterick in July last year, said she had come to make her feelings known to MPs.

Her 21-year-old son left a note saying he had been having bad dreams and hallucinations, but officers had called him a liar. The family also claim that he was beaten up in the days before his death.

She said: "It's a protest meeting. I just feel that I had to come to let people know what is happening.

"It's a big problem, it's not just about Deepcut.

"More soldiers have died at Catterick but they are doing nothing about it.

"In my son's case, there is a big chunk of the jigsaw missing and I need answers."

The pressure group, Deepcut and Beyond, handed out postcards outside Downing Street asking members of the public to petition Tony Blair for a public inquiry.

Geoff Gray, whose son Geoff of Seaham, County Durham, died from gunshot wounds at Deepcut in 2001, said the jailing of sexual predator Leslie Skinner, a former trainer at the barracks, highlighted the need for better protection for young soldiers.

He said: "I am sure he is just the tip of the iceberg.

"I can't see how the Government can avoid a public inquiry any longer. It is not just about Deepcut, it's a British Army problem."

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon was heckled when he stepped out of the Commons to be greeted by banners and an angry sea of faces.

"We shouted at him that we wanted a public inquiry and someone shouted he had blood on his hands," said Lynn Farr, whose son Daniel died at Catterick.

"He was shocked and just rushed back inside."

Kevin McNamara MP is backing calls for a public inquiry and yesterday asked MPs to back a new Early Day Motion in light of the Skinner case. More than 200 MPs have already supported calls for an inquiry.

Mr McNamara said: "The Army has clearly failed in its duty of care to these young soldiers and someone needs to be held accountable. I believe Adam Ingram, Minister of State, should admit this and make a statement to the House."