MURDER has not been ruled out of an investigation into the deaths of four soldiers found shot at a controversial Army barracks, relatives were told by police last night.

Following a meeting with senior detectives from Surrey Police, the family of Geoff Gray, 17, formerly of Seaham, County Durham, were told inquiries into the deaths at Deepcut Barracks could be completed as early as next month.

The father of Private Gray, also called Geoff, told how officers said they were still looking into the possibility of murder or suicide.

At the meeting last night, Mr Gray was accompanied by Jim Collinson, 40, who earlier yesterday had visited the barracks to retrace the last steps of his son James, 17, who was found with a single gunshot wound to the head.

Mr Gray said: "We've been told an awful lot by police and I'm more upbeat. The say they have not got a conclusion at the moment, but hope to draw the investigation to an end by January.

"We were told officers are bringing in ballistics experts from Germany.

"A piece of human skull has also been found where Geoff's body lay and a cap badge was missing from Private Collinson's cap, just as my son's was missing."

Mr Gray added: "I asked detectives if this was becoming too much for them to handle, and was told this was an issue that needed looking at further.

"We know there are more interviews to be conducted, so we will just have to wait and see what happens."

After visiting the barracks, Mr Collinson said: ''This is where my eldest son's dreams ended in one sad night.

"We dropped him off at three o'clock and less than six hours later he was dead.''