Sophie Decker reports: "For 25 years it has been one of the seas unsolved mysteries"

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced that the investigation into the sinking - in which all 36 crew members were lost - would be reopened following new evidence in a report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB).

The Hull-based trawler sank in Arctic waters off Norway in 1974.

The original inquiry into the incident concluded that the vessel capsized in heavy seas, but relatives of the men who died have long suspected other causes.

John Prescott: Hopes inquiry will close chapter on "tragic event"

There have been suggestions that the Gaul was sunk by the Soviet navy, who suspected the trawler was spying, or that she was hit by a Nato vessel on a secret exercise.

However, the MAIB, which carried out underwater surveys last summer, said no evidence had been found to support such allegations.

It also established that some weather-tight hatches were open and found evidence of pressure damage at the bows.

Kevin Bocquet: "Some of the families still suspect foul play"

It concluded that the vessel sank after being pounded by several large breaking waves pouring water through the open hatches and doors.

Craig Broom, whose father Sydney was second mate on board the trawler, said: "It does seem plausible that my father's boat filled with water, but the question I want to ask is why it took so long for a search to be made for it.

"If this had happened at the time the boat went down, the families might not have had to suffer over 25 years of anguish."

Michael Spurgeon, whose father Maurice was a crew member, said: "There still remain a lot of questions that need answering. There was no May Day call, no wreckage found and no bodies found at the time - these must be answered at the inquiry."

Tim Hirsch reports: "There's a long way to go yet"

Now a search will be launched to trace, exhume and DNA-test three bodies washed up on the Russian coast in 1974 and suspected of being members of the crew. The Russian Authorities have agreed to help.

Huge controversy

Mr Prescott said there would also be an official investigation into why no search was made for the Gaul. No distress message was received from the vessel and the only wreckage recovered was a small buoy.

Mr Prescott said: "The loss of the Gaul has been a matter of huge controversy ever since she sank.

"I sincerely hope that the reopened investigation will be able to address any outstanding questions on the circumstances of her loss and close the chapter on this very tragic event."

Alan Johnson, MP for Hull West, said: "The city of Hull has lost 900 ships over the last 150 years, but the Gaul has become a symbol in that nobody seemed bothered about searching for it.

"Hopefully things will be different in the future because of this tragedy."