The High Court is to decide whether to reopen an inquest into the death of a young serviceman during nerve gas trials at Porton Down research centre 50 years ago.

Ronald Maddison was 20 when he took part in what he thought was an experiment to find a cure for the common cold in May 1953.

The leading aircraftsman was dead within minutes, and an inquest - held in private for "reasons of national security" - ruled he died of asphyxia.

But fellow servicemen claim he had been exposed to the deadly nerve agent sarin, dripped onto a patch of uniform taped to his arm at the government's chemical and biological warfare centre in Wiltshire.

Deadly agent

The call for an inquiry into the death of Mr Maddison, originally from Consett, County Durham, is being brought by Wiltshire coroner David Masters, supported by the Attorney General.

Lord Woolf, the Lord Chief Justice, and Mrs Justice Hallett will decide whether a new inquest would be in the public interest.

The application follows years of campaigning by former servicemen who claim some of their colleagues died after being exposed to nerve agents at Porton Down, near Salisbury.

Ronald Maddison died after exposure to Sarin

They say their friends were duped into taking part in the tests believing they were helping to find a cure for the common cold.

Porton Down campaigners hope a new inquest into the death of Mr Maddison, of Swindon, Wiltshire, will return a verdict of unlawful killing.

Wiltshire Police have investigated the deaths of more than 70 volunteers at the establishment.

Mr Maddison's brothers and sisters have filed evidence in support of the coroner's application.

Lawyers for the Ministry of Defence have indicated they do not oppose the move to quash the original verdict.