TONY BLAIR yesterday avoided a call for him to meet the parents of a North Army recruit who died at Deepcut barracks.

The Prime Minister was urged to issue an invitation to meet the parents of Private Geoff Gray, of Seaham, County Durham, and three other soldiers who died in suspicious circumstances at the Surrey base.

The plea came as the Government awaits the publication of a report into the Deepcut deaths by human rights lawyer Nicholas Blake QC, due on March 29.

There have also been renewed calls for a public inquiry after an inquest last week recorded an open verdict -rather than suicide -in the case of one of the recruits, James Collinson.

During Prime Minister's Questions, Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik said the coroner had noted the Government had "nothing to fear" from a public inquiry.

He said: "I simply ask the Prime Minister to agree to meet the parents of the four deceased Deepcut recruits once Nicholas Blake has completed his inquiry, to hear their views on the matter."

Mr Blair replied: "The report by Nicholas Blake QC has not yet been finalised and I understand that it will be finalised at the end of this month.

"I do not think I can really comment further until we have received his findings."

Privates Geoff Gray, Cheryl James, Sean Benton and James Collinson died from gunshot wounds in unexplained circumstances at the barracks between 1995 and 2002. The Army has insisted all four committed suicide, but inquests also recorded open verdicts on Privates Gray and James.

Geoff and Diane Gray have fought a long campaign to find out the truth after it emerged their son was shot twice and it was reported that a figure was seen running away. The MoD said a judicial inquiry would be too time-consuming.