RELATIVES of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan may have been victims of News of the World phone hacking, lawyers said tonight.

The Ministry of Defence was seeking clarification from Scotland Yard as sources said families of dead servicemen were being contacted by detectives over the scandal.

News International said it would be "absolutely appalled and horrified" if there was any truth in the allegations and it would be immediately contacting the MoD.

MPH Solicitors - whose clients include Samantha Roberts, widow of one of the first Britons killed in Iraq in 2003 - said they were called today.

"We have been contacted this morning in connection with a possible phone-hacking on our clients, and Geraldine McCool, arising out of high-profile military inquests in 2006/2007," a statement said.

"We are making efforts to verify this information."

A News International spokesman said: "News Internationals record as a friend of the Armed services and of our servicemen and servicewomen, is impeccable.

"Our titles have campaigned in support of the military over many years and will continue to do so. If these allegations are true we are absolutely appalled and horrified. We will be contacting the MoD immediately to try and verify the situation."