The father of a mixed race man who was found hanged six months after his uncle died in similar circumstances has denied "lies and rumours" suggesting they were lynched by racists.

The Chief Constable of West Mercia, Peter Hampson, ordered a fresh investigation into the death of Jason McGowan, 20, and his uncle Harold, also known as Errol.

He promised to take action after meeting members of the McGowan family, who have been campaigning for the deaths to be looked at again.

Harold McGowan, 32, was found hanged at a house in Telford, Shropshire, in July 1999. Six months later, on New Year's Eve, Jason McGowan left a party in a pub in the town and was later found hanging from railings.

'Lies and rumours'

Harold McGowan's brothers, Clifton and Noel, have said both men were subjected to racial abuse and threats in the last two years and have suggested they may have been murdered.

But in an exclusive interview with the BBC, Jason McGowan's father, Robert King, said he believed his son had taken his own life and urged an end to the "lies and rumours".

Mr King, 42, claimed his son's death had been "manipulated" by certain people with their own agenda.

Mr King said: "I have watched this terrible tragedy unfold from a personal loss of a young, much-loved son, be manipulated by the press and certain family members into a 'racist lynch mob', connecting it to Errol.

"Why is this being linked to the death of his uncle Errol? Where is the evidence? Where have the facts gone?"

Mr King said: "I am looking for answers too, but perhaps I may never find them."

Shadow of Michael Menson case

He asked for his son to be allowed to rest in peace and added: "There is very little evidence to support this racist lynch mob theory - some people believe that if they shout rumours loud enough and often enough to the media, then eventually it will be believed."

The police have been accused by anti-racism campaigners of jumping to easy assumptions and failing to learn the lessons learnt in the Stephen Lawrence and Michael Menson inquiries.

Speaking after almost five hours of talks at a Telford hotel between the McGowans and senior officers, the family's solicitor Errol Robinson said the family hoped the new inquiry would uncover the truth.

Mr Robinson said: "We have made a number of agreements with West Mercia police service in relation to full disclosure of all information relevant to the deaths of Errol and Jason.

"The family's earnest hope is that a new investigation will finally uncover the truth behind the deaths of the family members.

"We therefore await the findings of both the review of the previous investigation and any evidence uncovered by the new investigation."

He said he welcomed West Mercia's decision to seek the advice of the Metropolitan Police Race and Violent Crime Task Force, which last week made a number of recommendations.

An inquest into the death of Harold McGowan has been fixed for later this month.