DEFENCE Secretary Geoff Hoon has promised a full investigation into claims that soldiers were forced to parade naked at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

A 17-year-old soldier says he and comrades were humiliated when they were forced to strip.

When the recruits tried to cover their private parts it is alleged they were then punched in the face by officers.

Mr Hoon made the pledge of a thorough inquiry in the House of Commons when the issue was raised by North-East MP Ronnie Campbell. But he denied such humiliation was routine in the UK armed forces.

Mr Campbell, MP for Blyth North, was told by one of his constituents, the mother of the recruit, that similar treatment was dealt out to other recruits.

The soldier, who is on medical leave, claims he was made to parade naked in front of superiors with other soldiers while they made fun of them.

Mr Campbell said: "When they tried to cover their private parts, they were punched in the face.

"That needs to be investigated, but it shows that the problem is endemic in the British Forces."

Mr Hoon replied: "I do not for a moment accept that it is endemic.

"I know you have raised the problem with the Minister for Armed Forces, Adam Ingram, and there will be a thorough and detailed investigation."

Mr Campbell said: "This is the sort of thing that is supposed to be going on in Iraq and it is not on.

"At this stage it is all allegation, but if it is true it goes together with Deepcut."

Families of soldiers who died at Deepcut barracks, in Surrey, and Catterick Garrison have joined forces to form a pressure group, Deepcut and Beyond, to campaign for a public inquiry.

Lynn Farr, mother of a soldier who died at Catterick, said: "I hope this matter will be fully investigated and the results made public.

"To be honest, it is not the first time I have heard of this type of thing happening."

A spokesman for Catterick Garrison said last night: "It is difficult to investigate any such allegation until we are given the name of the soldier to follow up.

"But obviously, as soon as we have got it we will investigate fully."

* The father of Deepcut soldier Private Geoff Gray, of Seaham, County Durham, hit out last night after Mr Hoon sent a letter of apology to the parents of Cheryl James, who also died at the base, but ignored the other families.

Des and Doreen James received a letter in which Mr Hoon said: "A number of valid criticisms have been levelled at the Ministry of Defence."

He added: "Our relations with you and your wife, and the other families involved, have not always been handled well and I apologise unreservedly for this."

Mr Gray said it was appalling he had not written to the other parents, describing it as a slap in the face.

He said: "We are all in the same boat. What we deserve is a public inquiry but Geoff Hoon is too scared to hold one."