Four of the veterans who say they were duped into taking part in Porton Down tests have connections with Swindon.

One of them is Ken Earl, a former medical orderly at Wroughton's then RAF hospital. He told the Evening Advertiser he was exposed to nerve gas two days before the death of Ronald Maddison.

Although he thought he was helping to cure the common cold, Mr Earl says he was exposed to Sarin but only made the link after reading about Mr Maddison's death.

"He went into the same experiment chamber and sat in the same chair as I sat on two days after me," said Mr Earl, who has suffered a lot of ill health during his life.

Now he is leading the fight for compensation for all those human guinea pigs who claim their health suffered after Porton Down.

Former Royal Navy cook Len Brigginshaw of Liddington Street, Swindon, contacted the police after the inquiry was set up and has now been given a clean bill of health.

The cases of two other men Ted Anns from Cricklade and Eric Hatherall of Highworth are being looked into.