The family of an army recruit who died in training were given new hope yesterday after permission was granted for them to apply for a fresh inquest.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve gave permission to the family of Private Cheryl James, who died at Deepcut barracks, to apply for the inquest.

Pte James was undergoing initial training when she was found with gunshot wounds in November 1995. The original inquest into her death recorded an open verdict.

Three other young soldiers died at the barracks in Surrey between 1995 and 2002. All three were ruled to be suicides - sparking allegations of bullying and abuse.

Pte James's parents Des and Doreen James, backed by Human Rights campaign group Liberty, initiated the call for a new inquest by lodging an application with the Attorney General for consent to apply to the High Court.

And Mr Grieve confirmed his consent yesterday.

His spokesman said: "The application was made to the Attorney General on the basis that the original inquest made insufficient inquiry into the circumstances of her death and because new evidence is now available that was not put before the inquest in December 1995."

The Attorney General does not have power to order a new inquest, but an application can now be made to the High Court.

Ms James's parents said: "It's been a long and painful process, with so many hurdles, but we never considered giving up.

"We may now finally achieve a meaningful inquiry into her death and we hope it brings about real change for future recruits."

Liberty applied for a new inquest on Mr and Mrs James's behalf after using the Human Rights Act to secure access to documents held by the authorities about their daughter's death.

Liberty solicitor Emma Norton said: "The Attorney General's decision gives Cheryl's grieving family a long-overdue chance to discover the truth.

"Until now their battle for answers has been repeatedly snubbed by a state that views the fundamental human rights of our troops as an optional extra."