A SERGEANT major named on television as the man at the centre of bullying allegations at a controversial Army camp insisted last night: "My conscience is clear."

Sgt Major Andrew Gavaghan, an Army welfare officer at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, refuted claims by BBC TV's Panorama that he bullied young recruits when he was a sergeant at Deepcut barracks, Surrey.

Four soldiers have been found shot dead in apparent suicides at the barracks - but their families are demanding an inquiry.

Last night, Sgt Major Gavaghan called for a "thorough and transparent" investigation to help the families of the soldiers concerned.

In a statement, issued through his solicitors, he said the allegations against him were "without foundation".

He said: "A picture has been painted of me that is completely at odds with the truth.

"I am proud that I hold an excellent record after 22 years in the Army during which time it has been shown that I have always adopted a caring and professional attitude in my dealings with soldiers.

"I would like to point out that I have not been interviewed by Surrey Police in connection with their inquiries at Deepcut barracks but I would welcome the opportunity to talk to them. My conscience is clear and I wish to help the inquiry in any way that I can.

"While I would like the opportunity to publicly refute the detail of the allegations made against me, it would be improper for me to do so at this stage as it may detract from the integrity of any on-going inquiry." He added: "It is important for the families and for the memory of the soldiers concerned that this inquiry is thorough and transparent."

A spokeswoman for Surrey Police, who are investigating the Deepcut deaths, including that of North-East soldier Geoff Gray, confirmed that allegations of bullying by Sgt Major Gavaghan had been reported to detectives before the Panorama programme was shown.

It is believed that Surrey Police officers, who are also investigating the deaths of Privates Sean Benton, James Collinson and Cheryl James, will want to speak to Sgt Major Gavaghan in the near future.

Last night, Durham County Council youth worker Pat Hill, who enlisted the help of Mr Gavaghan to mount outdoor adventure projects in the 1990s, said allegations of bullying had come "like a bolt from the blue".

The sergeant major worked with Mrs Hill when he was a member of the Gilesgate Special Projects Team which was formed in 1994 to bring physically handicapped and able-bodied young people together.

Mrs Hill said: "He was fantastic. He worked tirelessly on the projects and I could not fault him.

"He was great with the youngsters and with his young soldiers and if there had ever been the slightest indication that he engaged in any sort of bullying behaviour I would not have worked with him or allowed him to work with our young people.

"He was no bully, in fact, just the opposite. He was a big softie with the kids."

Sgt Major Gavaghan organised two mountain climbing expeditions and helped to raise funds through the 1998 Great North Run before the team disbanded in 1999. He has had no further involvement with group.

Meanwhile, another former soldier from the North-East contacted The Northern Echo last night to give further evidence of bullying at Deepcut barracks.

Katherine Thresher, a soldier at Deepcut at the time Private Sean Benton was found shot dead with five bullet wounds to the chest in 1995, said she had witnessed soldiers being bullied.

The 26-year-old, of Barnard Castle, County Durham, claimed that while she did not become a victim herself, other privates did.

She said: "If you were a loner or quiet, you would be picked on. It was those type of people it happened to.

"There was never any sexual harassment towards me, but I had a boyfriend. If you were unattached they were more likely to come on to you.

"I left the Army when I fell pregnant. My life would have been made hell. They don't like women in the Army anyway but if you were a woman with a kid, you had no chance."

The Ministry of Defence refused to comment on the allegations but said that the Army had a zero tolerance policy towards bullying.

A spokesman said soldiers should report any allegations to the military authority or the police.