A long-awaited report into the deaths of four young Army recruits at the controversial Deepcut barracks was due to be made public today.

The report compiled by Surrey Police, which was received by families of the soldiers yesterday, is expected to make ''damning'' criticisms of the Army and Ministry of Defence.

The publication, which stems from a £1 million, 15-month investigation, is likely to reawaken calls for a full public inquiry into the deaths between 1995 and 2002 of privates Geoff Gray, 17, from Seaham, Durham; Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, East Sussex; James Collinson, 17, from Perth; and Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, North Wales.

The four soldiers were each found dead with gunshot wounds at the Princess Royal Barracks in Deepcut, Surrey. Official explanations that the four committed suicide have prompted accusations of a cover-up and raised questions over a so-called culture of bullying.

The cases were reopened in 2002 with 900 witnesses interviewed and 1,500 statements taken.

While Surrey Police concluded last September that no-one was to be prosecuted, Deputy Chief Constable Bob Quick promised that the fifth report, due out at 11am this morning, would highlight in detail concerns about the care of new recruits.

The report is expected to deal in more general terms with those concerns rather than the specifics of the four deaths. Reports yesterday suggested that recommendations could include a call for a ban on new recruits carrying weapons with live ammunition.

A Surrey Police spokeswoman declined to comment on what the report might contain.

Families of the soldiers will later be joined by Labour MP Kevin McNamara, who has led the calls for a public inquiry into the deaths.

Mr McNamara said last night: ''The Deepcut fiasco has gone on long enough. I believe the families are morally and legally entitled to a high-powered public inquiry.

''The Army is acting as if it is outside the law, the safety of young recruits is thrown to the wind.

''An inquiry must establish independent oversight as a permanent feature of service life.''

He also called for new structures to be put in place to make the army more accountable.

''I envisage an independent complaints commission, a new inspectorate to investigate problems and a country-wide lay visitors scheme to involve service families,'' he said.

The publication of the report has been brought forward from 2pm to 11am to coincide with a statement by armed forces minister Adam Ingram, a Surrey Police spokeswoman said.