AN inquest into the death of a North-East serviceman who took part in secret military chemical warfare tests has been put back to the New Year.

Wiltshire and Swindon coroner David Masters is to hear the circumstances of the death of 20-year-old Ronald Maddison, at the Ministry of Defence's Porton Down laboratories, on Salisbury Plain, in May 1953.

The RAF engineer, from Consett, County Durham, died after allegedly being given a 200mg dose of the deadly nerve gas sarin.

He is thought to have been one of many servicemen and women who came forward believing they were volunteering in experiments to find a cure for the common cold, but who, instead, in some cases, were subjected to exposure to CS gas, mustard gas and hallucinogens, such as LSD.

The re-hearing of the Maddison inquest is seen as a test case, which may lead to criminal proceedings against some officials involved in the tests, although many have since died.

An original inquest was heard behind closed doors and a verdict of "misadventure" was recorded.

Last year, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf quashed the original verdict allowing a new public hearing to be staged, before a jury.

The hearing, expected to last between six and eight weeks, was initially set for a date in September.

It was cancelled and re-listed for this week, but the coroner has again adjourned proceedings, due to, certain legal issues, raised with him by barristers representing some of the interested parties.

Mr Masters said all sides involved, including the MoD, the Porton Down Veterans' Association, Wiltshire's chief constable and lawyers for the Maddison family, have agreed to the latest adjournment.