THE father of a young soldier serving with the Queen's Lancashire Regiment has rubbished photographs allegedly showing an Iraqi prisoner being tortured but, admitted he would be concerned for his son's safety if he returned to Iraq.

Michael Wilson's son Private Nicholas Wilson, 19, has seen duty in Iraq but is currently stationed with the 1st Battalion QLR in Cyprus.

He said: "I've not spoken to my son for a few weeks and of course I would be concerned for his safety if he's sent back to Iraq, but I think any threats are just all talk.

"We heard Nicholas might be going back to Iraq soon but we don't know anything for definite. There's not really anything we can do about it.

"I don't think the photos are real, I've certainly received a lot of photos from Nicholas and there's nothing like that in them."

Former Corpus Christi High School pupil Pte Wilson of Fulwood, Preston, has been with the regiment for two-and-a-half-years.

The photos, which appeared in a national newspaper on Saturday, allegedly show an Iraqi prisoner being tortured. They were reported to be taken by two soldiers from the QLR, based at Fulwood Barracks.

Army spokesman Roger Goodwin said: "There is an investigation into the photos but there are strong suspicions in the regiment and elsewhere that the pictures are fake."

The father of an Iraqi hotel receptionist yesterday (Wednesday) launched a high court action demanding an inquiry into his son's death.

Baha Mousa, 26, was allegedly beaten to death in September 2003 by members of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

The Royal Military Police is still investigating the case. Frustrated at the lack of progress, Mr Mousa's father, Colonel Daoud Mousa, a senior police officer, is demanding compensation and a full judicial inquiry.