THE father of a North-East soldier who died mysteriously at the Army's Deepcut base said last night he was confident an independent investigator would uncover the truth.

Forensic and ballistics expert Frank Swann arrived at the Surrey barracks yesterday to begin a four-week probe into the deaths of four soldiers, including Private Geoff Gray, 17, of Seaham, County Durham.

Pte Gray, Pte Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, East Sussex, Pte James Collinson, 17, from Perth, and Pte Cheryl James, from Llangollen, north Wales, all died from gunshot wounds at the barracks, between 1995 and 2001.

The soldiers' families refuse to accept that all four killed themselves using their own rifles and have accused the Army of a cover-up.

Mr Swann has been hired by the parents as part of their independent investigation, which is running alongside a police inquiry.

Pte's Gray's father Geoff said Mr Swann's arrival at the base was good news for the families.

"He has been allowed in by the Defence Minister Adam Ingram and his work should not be hindered at all.

"This kind of investigation should have happened when the soldiers were killed.

"It's very sad that we have had to cause such a stink and bring our own investigation."

Mr Swann revealed yesterday that he had been paid only £4 by the families as a fee for his work.

"We will be using laser and detection equipment at the scenes of each of the deaths," he said.

"We will also be reconstructing and re-enacting the incidents from the original crime scene photographs.

"From these methods we should get a good idea of what took place, and using standard ballistics methods whether the individuals shot themselves or not.

"We cannot say murder or manslaughter, that is for the police and the other authorities."

In an initial report last month, Mr Swann said wounds sustained by Pte Gray and Pte Benton could not have been self-inflicted.

He was also 70 per cent sure the fatal wound to Pte Collinson was not self-inflicted, but more tests were necessary in the case of Pte James.

Mr Swann said he had been advised by Surrey Police that they would consider the findings of his investigation.