POLICE officers involved in a probe into the deaths of soldiers at the Deepcut Army barracks are being investigated themselves.

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary has been asked to carry out a review of the Surrey Police inquiry into the four young squaddies' deaths.

The move comes after families, including relatives of County Durham private Geoff Gray, 17, raised concerns about the controversial case.

Pte Gray, from Seaham, died from gunshot wounds at the barracks in September 2001. An inquest at the time recorded an open verdict but his family believe he was murdered.

The Ministry of Defence insists the four deaths, between 1995 and 2002, were all suicides, and a 15-month police investigation concluded there was no foul play.

Now the £1m police investigation will be examined by an outside force.

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: "We have asked them to look into aspects of the investigation about which the families have raised concerns, including mindset, collusion, use of MoD officers, inappropriate behaviour by Surrey officers and quality assurance checks on statements."

One Surrey officer among the 34-strong team working on the case resigned from the force after allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

A statement from Devon and Cornwall Constabulary said: "The review is at an early stage so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

The conclusions of the inquiry have been challenged by the soldiers' families and independent investigator, Frank Swann, who claims the gunshot wounds could not have been self-inflicted.

Pte Gray's father, also called Geoff, last night welcomed the move to have the case re-examined.

He said: "It will give us yet another piece of the jigsaw puzzle we are putting together for a public inquiry."