Soldier's body to be exhumed

Four young soldiers died after being shot at the barracks

Police have confirmed that the body of a young soldier who died in mysterious circumstances at an army base is to be exhumed.

Private James Collinson, 17, died from a single gunshot to the head at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey - as did Private Cheryl James from Llangollen. Two other young soldiers also died from gunshot wounds.

Private Cheryl James's death remains a mystery

In each of the cases the army has said the soldiers all committed suicide - claims which have been disputed by each of their families.

Surrey Police have now confirmed that a post mortem examination will be carried out on the body of Private James Collinson.

Pte Collinson, from Perth, Scotland, was found at the barracks in March with a gunshot wound to his head.

Detectives are also investigating three other deaths from gunshot wounds at the Royal Logistics Corps HQ over the past few years.

'Same killer'

The Army claims that the deaths were all suicides.

However, the soldiers' families believe they may have been the victims of the same killer.

The parents' pressure led to the launch of the police investigation.

Last September Geoff Gray from Seaham, County Durham, was found shot dead on guard duty at the Princess Royal Barracks.

Private Collinson came from Perth

Private Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, north Wales, was found in 1995 lying in woodland outside the base with a single bullet hole in her head.

An inquest into her death recorded an open verdict.

In the same year 20-year-old Sean Benton from Hastings, Sussex, was found dead with five gunshot wounds. An inquest recorded a verdict of suicide.