Jim and Yvonne Collinson continue to call for a public inquiry

Jim and Yvonne Collinson said the Surrey Police probe was positive, but only a public inquiry would answer the question of why their son James died.

The Perth teenager's body was found in March 2002 with gunshot wounds.

Three other recruits died in similar circumstances at the Surrey base between 1995 and 2002.

They were Geoff Gray, from Durham, Sean Benton, from Hastings and Cheryl James, from Llangollen, north Wales, who were all aged between 17 and 20.

Following publication of the police report, the House of Commons Defence Committee announced plans for a wide-ranging review of the issues it raised.

The British army doesn't know what their recruits are up to with loaded weapon, it is too late for our son, but not for future recruits Yvonne Collinson parent

Despite the Surrey Police report being the fifth to examine the case, the Collinsons have renewed their calls for a public inquiry.

Mrs Collinson said: "If we don't get a public inquiry I would say to anyone thinking of the armed forces to choose another career."

The families of the dead recruits were angered after the Ministry of Defence said the fatalities were either suicides or death caused by accidentally discharging rifles.

On Thursday, Mr Collinson said: "Studies done in the past were sadly put on the shelf to gather dust.

"Hopefully, this fifth report by Surrey Police will not gather dust and the recommendations will be put into use and an independent body will be established so that the recommendations are followed properly.

"The most important recommendation is in the area of care.

"At present a senior office looks after 80 recruits - if you get one person looking after that many, the duty of care cannot be of quality.

Loaded weapon

"It has now been recommended that one senior officer looks after 12 recruits. That will give greater safety for the recruits joining the Army today."

Mrs Collinson went on: "These are basically school children who have been issued with machine guns and sent out to play.

James Collinson was 17 when he died in March 2002

"The British army doesn't know what their recruits are up to with loaded weapon, it is too late for our son, but not for future recruits."

Mr Collinson said he was pleased that changes were already being made, but he was keen to see an independent body overseeing the implementation of those changes.

He added: "Sadly, at the start of their careers, the wellbeing and duty of care has been none-existence.

"We would not have signed a consent form for James if we had know what was going on. We would have said, James you should have another a career.

"The suggestions have got to be put in motion for the safety of these recruits."

Mrs Collinson claimed that a lack of supervision had led to the death of James, 17.

She said: "We believe someone else pulled the trigger on our son and that was the fault of a lack of supervision."