A MAN who was given LSD during secret tests at Porton Down says the news there will be no criminal prosecutions against those alleged to have administered drugs "has left a bitter taste."

Eric Hatherall, of King's Avenue, Highworth, was one of a number of servicemen who signed up for tests at the Wiltshire laboratory. He was lured by the prospect of earning extra money for taking part in experiments he thought were being conducted to find a cure for the common cold.

But an inquiry into the deaths of servicemen has reportedly concluded there is insufficient evidence to pursue criminal prosecutions.

The men took part in tests at the Ministry of Defence research centre near Salisbury over a 30-year period from the 1950s.

Last week it was revealed that some 50 biological and chemical weapons tests, which included the deadly nerve agent Sarin, were conducted at the base and the Americans used Porton Down to test chemical and biological weapons on their own men.

Operation Antler, the police probe into experiments at Porton Down since 1939, was launched in 1999 and cost more than £2 million. The investigation looked into the cases of 700 former servicemen.

Mr Hatherall, 60, who is married and now works for service company Serco, said: "It all seems like a waste of £2 million. They say they will use the information gathered in any further investigation.

"This leaves a bitter taste they carry out an investigation and now they say there will be no prosecutions.

"When I took part in tests in 1964 I didn't know what I was being subjected to I was told it was tests to discover a cure for the common cold."

In September the inquest into the death of Ronald Maddison, a 20-year-old RAF engineer who died in May 1953, is due to reopen. Mr Maddison was subjected to 200g of Sarin and died after thinking he was taking part in tests to discover a cold cure.

The original inquest, which was held in secret, ruled Mr Maddison had died of asphyxia and a verdict of misadventure was recorded. But the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolf, quashed that verdict and ordered a second inquest be opened.

In a statement, Wiltshire Police said its Chief Constable, Dame Elizabeth Neville, had written to more than 700 former service personnel, or their next of kin, who have had contact with Operation Antler.

The force added that the inquiry would continue to assist the coroner in preparation for the new inquest into the death of Mr Maddison.