The parents of a soldier who died in a shooting at an Army base have spoken of their anguish over the decision to exhume his body.

Jim and Yvonne Collinson, from Perth, Scotland, asked police to exhume the body of 17-year-old James, who died at Deepcut, Surrey, in March this year from a single gunshot to the head.

Surrey Police detectives will examine the body as part of their investigation into how four young people died while on duty at Royal Logistics Corps HQ, Deepcut, Surrey. Mr and Mrs Collinson said in a statement,: ''We are determined that the truth is discovered about how our son lost his life.

''The exhumation of his body is just one step that we are taking to achieve this objective. ''Distressing as it is to us, we will continue to do everything that is necessary to find out how and why our son's life was so dramatically cut short."

The exhumation will contribute to the police investigation into how James and three other soldiers, including 17-year-olf Private Geoff Gray, from Seaham died on guard duty at the Deepcut base.

Pte Gray's father, Geoff Gray, has accused the Army of a cover-up over the deaths and has welcomed the police inquiry.

The Army initially insisted that the deaths of all four soldiers were suicides.

Mr Gray, 38, said: ''I am pleased with the ongoing police work.

''The Collinson family don't want the date of the exhumation to come out and that is something that should be respected.

''I think they are being very brave and I only wish I was in a similar position.

''Geoff was cremated and I can no longer do anything for him as forensics were not carried out at the time of his death.''