THE father of a North-East soldier who died in mysterious circumstances at a UK Army base has criticised Tony Blair for blocking calls for a public inquiry into non-natural deaths at other British bases.

Geoff Gray, whose 17-year-old son, also Geoff, formerly of Seaham, County Durham, was found shot dead at Deepcut, in Surrey, last year, hit out at the Prime Minister's comments that a public inquiry was "inappropriate" while a police investigation into Deepcut was ongoing.

The Northern Echo has backed Mr Gray's calls for an investigation into non-combatant deaths of soldiers at UK bases, including Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

Readers have supported Mr Gray's appeal by filling in coupons calling for an inquiry, which is to be presented to Tony Blair.

Mr Blair's comments, made in a letter to Democratic Unionist MP Iris Robinson, has angered grieving families who want answers about their child's deaths.

Mr Gray said: "I just find it outrageous that Deepcut is being used to block an inquiry into non-combatant deaths on other bases.

"While I fully understand the police investigation into Deepcut will prevent an inquiry into deaths like Geoff's on that particular base, it should have no bearing on inquiries into other deaths in other bases."

Last month, grieving families of dead soldiers from the region, including the parents of Private Dale Little, of Stanley, County Durham, travelled to Westminister to lobby the Ministry of Defence for an inquiry. The parents of Richard Robertson and Alan Sharples, who both died from gunshot wounds while serving at Catterick Garrison, are also backing the demand for an inquiry.

Relatives of dead soldiers want an investigation into all non-combatant deaths at UK Army bases since 1990, claiming the Army has been stone-walling their appeal for answers.

Figures released by the Ministry if Defence in July showed that there had been 1,748 deaths among members of the armed forces through "non-natural causes", either on or in the vicinity of military property, since 1990.

If you would like to support the families' calls for an inquiry please fill in the coupon below and send it to Liz Lamb, The Northern Echo, Priestgate, Darlington DL1 INF