BALLISTICS experts have been called in to solve the case of a young North-East soldier who died in mysterious circumstances.

Geoff Gray, 17, from Seaham, County Durham, was shot dead while on guard duty at the Royal Logistics Corps headquarters in Deepcut, Surrey, last September.

Although an inquest recorded an open verdict, an investigation by Army police privately suggested he had committed suicide.

Private Gray's parents, Geoff and Diane, have been campaigning for a further investigation into their son's death.

The inquest heard that the teenager suffered two gunshot wounds, both of which would have killed him outright, on either side of his forehead.

A witness also described hearing three gunshots in quick succession and seeing a man climbing the compound wall that Private Gray was patrolling.

Last month, Surrey Police announced it was re-investigating the deaths of Pte Gray and Private Patrick Collinson, a 17-year-old who died at the base, from a single gunshot wound to his head.

Now, the force is calling in ballistics experts to scientifically examine the SA80 rifles used in four deaths at the Deepcut base - Privates Gray, Collinson, Sean Benton and Cheryl James.

Pte Benton was 20 when he died, in June 1995, after being hit in the chest with five bullets, and 18-year-old Pte James was found with a single bullet wound to her head, just six months after she joined the Army.

The decision to re-open the case has been welcomed by the families of the soldiers.

Speaking earlier this month, Mrs Gray said her family hoped they would at last get some answers.

"For all we know, there could be a serial killer at large," she said.

"If Geoff's death had been investigated thoroughly in the first place we would never have had to go this far.

"In a way, it is worrying because we have no idea what the investigation will uncover about how our son died.

"But we will not be able to rest until the facts have come out."