An urgent investigation is being held after a young army recruit claimed she was raped at Deepcut barracks.

The woman, who joined the Royal Logistics' Corps in 1994, said she was the victim of a series of sexual assaults and then raped by a corporal.

She also alleged she was humiliated on parade and subjected to a stream of sexual jibes and abuse when she tried to get outside help.

The soldier, named only as Private Brown in a newspaper, claimed a nurse at the base told her there was no point in reporting an assault because she would not be believed.

Army response

She said she then exaggerated medical problems in order to get a discharge from the army.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman responded to the allegations and said: "If she has any complaint of a criminal nature we would encourage her to direct them to civilian police.

"We take any claims of this nature very seriously and will fully co-operate with any police investigation.

"It has not yet been possible for us to check whether she lodged any complaint at the time.

"We will be looking into it with the utmost urgency."

The barracks is also under investigation by Surrey Police after the deaths of four young soldiers.