THE MOTHER of a Balkans veteran who died from leukaemia has criticised military chiefs for not investigating a cancer link to depleted uranium.

Mrs Gail Norris's son, Alan Joy, served in Bosnia four years ago. Press reports this week suggested that the Ministry of Defence had been warned at the time by Army doctors about the risks from DU shells used there.

The 27-year-old former Prestwich High School pupil who was a physical training instructor with the Parachute Regiment died in August after developing leukaemia in September, 1999.

Mrs Norris, of Heathfield Road in Whitefield, now wants answers about the circumstances surrounding her son's death. She has also called for regular compulsory screening for troops.

Mrs Norris (47) spoke out after growing fears about DU and links with cancer among soldiers who served in the Balkans.

Mrs Norris said: "They knew about this four years ago and my son was in Bosnia four years ago. If they were aware of a risk then why did they not do something about it? "It makes me very angry. Even now other countries are carrying out screening while our Government has been doing nothing."

The latest revelation, which emerged from a leaked internal document dated March, 1997, came about after the MoD staged a dramatic U-turn by bowing to pressure for medical tests for Balkan veterans who fear they have been contaminated.

Armed Forces minister John Spellar announced a programme of voluntary screening for tens of thousands of service personnel and civilians who served in Bosnia and Kosovo.

The announcement came despite previous public assurances that there was no definite evidence that DU in ammunition posed any heath risk.

Mrs Norris, who has two other sons and a daughter, said: "My son may have died but at least others can be saved. If my son had had regular screening he might still be alive today.

"I read about Balkan War Syndrome on Saturday and I just thought that was why my son died. It was just too much of a coincidence. But how many more need to die before they do something about it?"

Mr Joy, who bought a house in Richmond Gardens, Bury, a few months after his diagnosis, suffered a "horrendous" death. He developed an infection following what was believed to be a successful bone marrow transplant.

Bury North MP David Chaytor, told the Bury Times this week that Britain should follow the lead set by other European countries and investigate.