Families of soldiers who died in mysterious circumstances at Deepcut barracks last night expressed their anger that the base had been chosen for a Royal visit.

Relatives - led by the father of North-East squaddie Geoff Gray - held a protest outside the barracks yesterday. Surrey Police are re-examining evidence relating to the deaths of four privates who all died from gunshot wounds and served at Deepcut.

The Princess Royal was visiting the Royal Logistics Corps to mark its 10th anniversary in her role as the Corps' Colonel-in-Chief.

But families and politicians have voiced their disapproval over the visit.

Mr Gray said a small group held 4ft high pictures of the soldiers who died.

He said: ''We wanted to hold a dignified and peaceful protest - just to let her know.

''With investigations into the deaths of soldiers still ongoing, we felt the timing was completely inappropriate. They should have postponed this celebration.''

Their stance has been previously backed by Labour MP for Hull North, Kevin McNamara, who had also called upon the Government to postpone the visit.

In a letter to Minister of State for the Armed Forces Adam Ingram, he said he was disappointed that ''the families of soldiers who lost their lives in still unexplained circumstances at Deepcut Barracks could not have been spared the distress of having their grief so casually disregarded ...

''... For the ten year history of the camp to be a cause for celebration while the cause of death of four young soldiers remains the subject of police investigation is a grave error of judgement.''

He said 174 members of Parliament from all parties had signed his Early Day Motion calling for an independent inquiry into all the Army deaths.

Surrey Police are re-examining evidence relating to the deaths of Privates Geoff Gray, 17, from Seaham, County Durham; Sean Benton, 20, from Hastings, East Sussex; James Collinson, 17, from Perth; and Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, North Wales.

All died from gunshot wounds and inquests recorded either open verdicts or suicide.

Relatives have demanded a public inquiry into the deaths and have hired an independent forensic expert who spent more than six weeks at the barracks.

Surrey CID said recently there was no evidence of any third-party involvement in the deaths. Its officers are also investigating an allegation of male rape at the barracks.

Also attending the protest were Jim and Yvonne Collinson, whose son James died at Deepcut, as well as Pte Gray's grandfather, Tom Moreland.