THE Government was last night under increasing pressure to hold a public inquiry into a North Yorkshire Army base after a soldier alleged he had been driven to the brink of suicide by bullies.

Rookie soldier Mark Massey claims he suffered weeks of torment at the hands of two superiors while stationed at Catterick Garrison, Britain's biggest Army base.

The 18-year-old said the abuse became so bad that he slit his wrists in a desperate attempt to end his life, while he was at the base between September and November 2002.

A year ago, The Northern Echo revealed that the parents of Private Richard Robertson and Private Allan Sharples, who both died at Catterick Garrison, were calling for a public inquiry into the deaths.

Last night, campaigners said the latest bullying allegations added weight to calls for an independent inquiry into deaths and bullying at UK Army bases, including Catterick Garrison.

They believe the investigation into events at Deepcut Barracks, in Surrey, where four soldiers died in mysterious circumstances, should be extended to all the UK bases.

MPs have criticised a "culture of cover-up" among military personnel and have said it has been difficult, and at times impossible, to get information.

Labour's former Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary, Kevin McNamara, is leading a campaign for a public inquiry supported by 173 MPs who have signed an Early Day Motion backing the calls.

He said: "There should be a similar body such as what the police and prison systems have.

"There should be an independent inspectorate which looks into bullying allegations and deaths."

The former private, who was assigned to the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, claims he suffered mental and emotional abuse, which became so bad he began self-harming and, on one occasion, tried to slit his wrists.

He said: "It was just horrible, the whole time. It got that bad I wanted to kill myself. It was verbal and mental abuse, everything.

"My life has been destroyed and my career has been destroyed."

Mr Massey was discharged from the Army in November last year for anxiety and is now unemployed.

He said he was never offered counselling and his mother, Susan Massey, also claims she was never told her son had tried to end his life.

A spokesman for Catterick Garrison said every effort was made to encourage and motivate Mr Massey.

"Despite these efforts the soldier did not respond and it was believed it would be in his best interests to leave the service," he said.

"His claim that no counselling was offered and given simply does not stand up.

"Staff spent many hours with the soldier and a doctor concluded there were no significant psychological problems."

The families of four soldiers who died at Deepcut barracks are to meet Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram to demand a public inquiry.

Geoff Gray, whose 17-year-old son Geoff, of Seaham, County Durham, died from gunshot wounds at Deepcut, criticised the invitation from the minister as coming too late.