FAMILIES of Gwent soldiers serving in Iraq have called for heightened security following the death of a Welsh soldier in Basra.

But a Gwent soldier on leave from Iraq says everything possible is being done to make British soldiers secure in the country.

Territorial Army Corporal Dewi Pritchard, 35, of Bridgend was one of three British military policemen killed in Basra on Saturday in an ambush on their hired Army vehicle.

Corporal Pritchard was the father of two young children. His family have said there are "unanswered questions" about security for British forces in Iraq after it emerged he had been travelling in an unprotected civilian hire car.

Elizabeth Cross, 55, of Chepstow Road, Newport, said she fears for her son's safety.

Lance Corporal Nick Bath, 25, has been in Basra for five weeks with the Monmouth-shire Royal Engineers.

Mrs Cross said: "The soldiers should be better looked after than they are, there should be more security for them. Is the right level of security there for them? I just hope and pray every day that something doesn't happen. Something like this makes me even more concerned about him being there."

Tina Lewis, of Rogiet, has two sons serving as sappers in Basra with the TA. Robert, 22, is currently on a short break at home, but Karl, 18, is still on duty in the Iraqi town.

Mrs Lewis said: "They review their security procedures all the time but there will never be enough security because you never know what's going to happen. Karl keeps me updated with any incidents and tells me not to worry, but the weekend's news does make me more concerned."

Sergeant Major Islwyn Evans, 43, of Cefn Fforest, Blackwood, has just returned from Basra, serving with the Territorial Army. He said: "We can't really do any more about security than we are doing at the moment. "We take as many precautions as we can with body armour and varying our routes. I'm going back on September 4 but I don't feel any more concerned now.

"The danger has been there from the beginning, it's just unfortunate that these incidents keep occurring. But the soldiers will get used to the situation like they did in Northern Ireland."