A PETITION bearing the signatures of Northern Echo readers calling for a public inquiry into suspicious Army deaths is to be handed to the Prime Minister.

Deepcut and Beyond, a delegation of friends and family of dead soldiers, will hand thousands of signatures, including those of hundreds of Northern Echo readers, to Tony Blair in May.

The announcement was made on the eve of the publication of a report by Nicholas Blake QC, who has reviewed the circumstances surrounding the deaths of four soldiers at Deepcut.

Private Geoff Gray, 17, of Seaham, County Durham, Private Cheryl James, 18, from Wales, Private Sean Benton, 20, from Sussex, and Private James Collinson, 17, from Scotland, died while stationed at the Princess Royal Barracks between 1995 and 2002.

Their deaths led to other families coming forward alleging bullying, abuse and suspicious deaths at other UK bases, including Catterick Garrison, in North Yorkshire.

More than 500 Northern Echo readers completed a coupon published in the paper calling for Mr Blair to hold a public inquiry.

Lynn Farr, a member of Deepcut and Beyond and founder of Daniel's Trust, set up to help bullied soldiers, said last night: "I want to thank the readers of The Northern Echo for all their support over the years. We hope Tony Blair will stand up and listen."

Geoff Gray, father of Pte Gray, said: " I would like to thank everyone who is backing our call from the bottom of our hearts."

* Human rights group Amnesty International has joined calls for a public inquiry into the Deepcut deaths.

Kate Allen, Amnesty International UK director, said: ''For too long, the deaths of these young people has been shrouded in secrecy, leading to allegations that the truth has been covered up. The authorities should open Deepcut and other barracks up to a full public inquiry to get to the bottom of this."