PARENTS worried their son may have been murdered on an Army base have welcomed a decision to reopen a police inquiry into his death.

Geoff and Diane Gray have been campaigning for further investigation into the death of their son, also called Geoff.

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

The Army, whose own police carried out the original investigation, privately suggested the teenager committed suicide, despite the fact that he had two gunshot wounds - both of which would have killed him outright - on either side of his forehead.

The circumstances surrounding his death have been shrouded in mystery, with a witness at an inquest into his death describing hearing three gunshots in quick succession and seeing a man climbing the fence of the compound that Private Gray was patrolling.

The inquest recorded an open verdict.

Police yesterday announced they are to look into the death of Pte Gray, and also the death of 17-year-old colleague Pte James Collinson, of Perth, Scotland.

He died from a single gun shot to the head while on duty at the same base on March 23 in March.

In a new twist, police are understood to be examining two other deaths at the barracks - both privates found with gunshot wounds over a six-month period in 1995.

In a statement, Surrey Police said: "Having listened to the concerns of the family of Private Geoff Gray, Surrey Police reviewed the case. As a result of the review, the force has decided to re-investigate the death and appointed a senior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Colin Sutton.

"The same officer has also taken responsibility for the investigation into the death of Private James Collinson. New to both inquiries, Det Chief Insp Sutton will bring a completely open mind to the process."

The decision was welcomed by Pte Gray's parents. "We are over the moon that the case has been reopened and hopefully, at long last, we will get some answers," said Mrs Gray.

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

"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 all the facts have come out."