AN independent investigation has revealed it would have been physically impossible for three soldiers at the Deepcut barracks to have killed themselves.

Forensic expert Frank Swann has for the first time revealed the full findings of his investigation into four deaths at the Surrey barracks.

Geoff Gray, 17, from Seaham, County Durham, died from gunshot wounds at the barracks as did fellow soldiers Sean Benton, 20, Cheryl James, 18, and James Collinson, 17.

Earlier this year, Mr Swann revealed that Mr Benton, Miss James and Mr Gray could not have killed themselves.

But his findings on the death of Mr Collinson, who died in March last year, were inconclusive.

It has now been revealed that Mr Swann's report found that it was not physically possible for the injuries sustained by Pte Gray, who was shot dead in September last year, to be inflicted by himself.

The same conclusion was reached on Mr Benton's death.

He died in June, 1995 from five gunshot wounds.

Mr Swann revealed that in his opinion Miss James, from Llangollen, in north Wales, was actually trying to push the gun away from her face when she was shot.

Mr Swann, who was hired independently to investigate the deaths for the victims' families, said: "It is my expert opinion based on the evidence, the nature of the wounds and the tests and experiments that I carried out that Private Cheryl James did not self-inflict the bullet wound that killed her."

The families of all of the dead soldiers have now renewed their calls for an inquiry into what happened at the barracks.

An investigation into Surrey police's handling of the deaths is also on-going following their conclusion that there was no foul play.

Miss James' father, Des, said: "There are so many unanswered questions for our family and until we have them answered we cannot put this behind us.

"This is the first expert witness who has told me that Cheryl's death was not self-inflicted.

"But the police say there were no third parties involved. It just does not make sense.

"If this does not call for a public inquiry, then I do not know what does."

Mr Swann's report has now been passed to the Surrey Coroner.