Cheryl James died from a bullet wound to the head

Des James' daughter, Cheryl, 18, from Llangollen, north Wales, was one of four recruits who died from gunshots.

Mr James has said he will fight for a judicial review if Mr Hoon blocks the families' demand for a public inquiry.

While there have been inquiries into the deaths, the families want an independent, public investigation.

The recruits aged 17 to 20 died at Deepcut Barracks between 1995 and 2002. Their deaths were recorded as suicide.

The defence secretary is still considering the families' request for a public inquiry.

I feel absolutely confident that if we did take that route we would be successful Des James

Mr James, who now lives at Llanymynech in Powys, met lawyers in London last week to discuss possible legal action.

"It is not something we would wish to do because of the cost and it is a painful process dealing with having lost your child," he said.

"I feel the MoD could be a little more compassionate.

"My grief is not raw anymore, my daughter died eight years ago, but I still want to know what happened.

"I feel absolutely confident that if we did take that route we would be successful."

Mr James said he thought the families of the three other dead soldiers from Deepcut would join the legal fight.

Further investigations

Private Cheryl James was found dead with a single bullet wound to her head at the barracks in November 1995.

The three other soldiers to die at the Royal Logistics Corps HQ were Geoff Gray, 17, from Durham, Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, East Sussex, and James Collinson, 17, from Perth.

Earlier this month a committee of MPs said they will investigate the "duty of care" regime of the Army, RAF and Navy towards their recruits, following the Deepcut deaths.

But it will not investigate individual deaths at the barracks or question the findings of the police, Army or coroner about how the deaths occurred.

The inquiry is expected to report early next year.

Surrey Police at the same time called for a broader inquiry after their investigation into the deaths of the four young soldiers.