Minister adds to pressure for Deepcut inquiry

Pressure mounted today for a public inquiry into the Deepcut scandal after a Cabinet minister said the deaths of four recruits were "too many to be a coincidence".

Leader of the Commons Peter Hain said the allegations of abuse at the Surrey Army barracks were "horrifying".

Armed Forces minister Adam Ingram has ordered a review after the Evening Standard revealed a catalogue of alleged rapes, bullying and sexual humiliation of recruits at the barracks between 1995 and 2002.

Mr Hain said he found the Deepcut allegations "deeply disturbing". He said: "I hope the investigation will really pull the drains up as to what's been going on.

"I have thought for a while the number of deaths is... too many to be a coincidence."

Some of the families of the relatives "must have been through agony", he added.

His comments were seized on by MPs and families of soldiers who are demanding a full public inquiry, with the power to call witnesses and check official papers.