The father of a North-East soldier shot dead at a controversial Army camp said last night he will not rest until a public inquiry is held into his death.

Private Geoff Gray, of Seaham, County Durham was found with two bullet wounds to the head at Deepcut barracks in Surrey in September 2001.

Geoff's parents, Diane and Geoff, are calling for a public inquiry into the Deepcut deaths and all non-natural deaths at Army bases across the UK, a move backed by The Northern Echo.

Over 400 readers have pledged their support to the campaign, many of them ex-service personnel.

Mr Gray said: "I would like to thank The Northern Echo readers for their support and everyone who is backing our calls from the bottom of our hearts.

"The more the public get involved the more chance we have of getting a public inquiry."

Hubert Johns, of Bishop Auckland, was stationed at Deepcut between 1984 and 1986. He wrote to the Echo to support the Gray's calls for an inquiry.

He said: "Even then things were not right. It was a very unhappy place with an awful atmosphere.

"My wife was in married quarters. She has served in Northern Ireland, Germany and all over the world but has never come across a place like Deepcut.

"The Army has a culture of secrecy. When you have kids dying like this they should open all the doors to find out what happened."

The Gray's have been contacted by families from across the UK, including those whose loved ones died while stationed at Catterick Garrison, the UK's biggest army base.

Richmondshire District councillor Tony Pelton, who covers the Catterick ward, has also pledged his support to the campaign.

He said: "I think it is very important that there is a public inquiry.

"I am against any kind of cover up, that does not do anyone any good and I do hope the Army will be helpful in these matters."

A police investigation has since been launched into the 17-year-old Geoff Gray's death, and into those of three other Privates, also found dead from shot wounds at the same barracks.