WILTSHIRE coroner David Masters has criticised the Government after hearing that the deaths of three British soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq could have been prevented if they had been better equipped.

Separate inquests were told of UK troops being denied potentially life-saving equipment - including night vision goggles, weaponry and armoured vehicles.

Andrew Walker, assistant coroner for Oxfordshire, accused the Ministry of Defence of an unforgivable breach of soldiers' trust over the death of Captain James Philippson in Afghanistan.

And Mr Masters demanded a review of Government armed forces spending over the deaths of Lance Sergeant Chris Casey and Lance Corporal Kirk Redpath in Iraq. He is due to meet Government ministers this week to discuss the equipment given to troops.

Capt Philippson, 29, of 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, died in a firefight with Taliban troops on June 11 2006 in which British forces were "totally out-gunned".

The Oxford inquest heard that before his death 7 Para soldiers complained repeatedly about a lack of proper equipment - chiefly standard night vision kits and weaponry.

Even after his death, the much-needed equipment did not arrive, the hearing was told.

The second inquest at Trowbridge heard that the platoon commander had asked for Mastiffs - more heavily protected vehicles - to be employed on the day the two men died, but they were all in use on another mission.

L/Sgt Casey, 27, and L/Cpl Redpath, 22, of 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, were escorting a supply convoy between Kuwait and Basra when they were hit by a home-made explosive.

L/Sgt Casey, a married father of two from Aldershot, and his younger comrade, from Romford, died after their Snatch Armoured Land Rover was hit north of the Rumaylah oilfields.

Recording verdicts that both men were unlawfully killed by terrorists, Mr Masters said he had "concerns" they had not been supplied with Mastiffs.

He went on: "It is my belief that it is imperative that our forces, whether they be in Iraq or Afghanistan, are given the best available equipment.

"If that means Mastiffs and not Snatch Land Rovers, then they should get Mastiffs because of the improved protection that they give.

"I have a meeting next week with the armed forces minister and this is an issue I intend to raise with him. I need to be satisfied that this is an issue that has been understood and dealt with, because I anticipate it is still relevant and will be in Afghanistan as well."

After the inquest Mr Redpath's partner, Sharon Hawkes, 50, said: "It was underfunding by the Government that killed him."