BEREAVED families of soldiers who died in mysterious circumstances are to take their fight to Westminster.

Geoff Gray, formerly of Seaham, County Durham, is spearheading a campaign for answers into the suspicious deaths of privates at Army bases. He will be joined by 14 other families, including the parents of Dale Little, of Stanley, County Durham, who died from a gunshot wound to the head in July 1995.

The parents of two privates, Alan Sharples and Richard Robertson, who died from gunshot wounds while stationed at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, will also attend, as well as the family of Gary Riches, of Newcastle, who was killed in October 1995, while serving in Central Bosnia.

Geoff Gray and wife Diane are calling for a public inquiry into the deaths of four soldiers at Deepcut barracks in Surrey, including that of their son, also called Geoff, 17, who died from two gunshot wounds in September last year.

The others are James Collinson,17, Sean Benton, 20, and Cheryl James, 18.

Along with Kevin McNamara MP, Mr Gray wants the inquiry to also look into the other Army deaths that have not been explained to the satisfaction of relatives.

On the visit to Westminster, which is hoped to be on October 29, the families want to put their calls for an inquiry to Defence Minister Adam Ingram.

Speaking at his home last night, Mr Gray said: "All the families are planning to go to Westminster, with a photograph of their son or daughter who died.

"They will say, 'My child was killed, I do not believe they committed suicide. I believe that they were murdered'.

"We want to get as much publicity and coverage as possible. We want everyone to know what has been going on.

"The families, or a delegation of the parents, want to meet Adam Ingram and tell him we want a public inquiry into Deepcut and we want it to include a wider remit of deaths elsewhere, such as at Catterick Garrison."

More than 100 MPs have signed an early-day motion backing the families' demand.