AN MP who believes an RAF Hercules shot down over Iraq could have been saved if vital firefighting equipment had been fitted has urged the Government not to put other lives at risk.

North Wiltshire Conserva-tive MP James Gray has written to Defence Secretary Des Browne highlighting the growing concern in the community around RAF Lyneham that there was a chance that if the Hercules XV179 had been fitted with foam suppressant around the wing tanks, then it might have been able to crash-land in Iraq in January 2005.

The Government says it will fit this foam suppressant in the Hercules fleet and will seek to do so in those planes which are to be deployed operationally. But the Ministry of Defence refused to say how many aircraft this would include or how long it will take for the work to be completed.

Mr Gray said the crash last month in Helman province in Afghanistan has renewed fears that the work is taking longer than it should do.

He added: "I have been increasingly concerned about fire security on Hercules aircraft from RAF Lyneham and in the light of the recent crash I thought it only right to press the Secretary of State again on this issue.

"I hope that he will be able to reassure me, and more importantly those constituents and their families who work at RAF Lyneham. There is a growing feeling among the community around RAF Lyneham that if Hercules XV179 had been fitted with foam suppressant in the wing tanks, then it might have been able to crash-land in Iraq last January and a terrible tragedy could just possibly have been avoided.

"I look forward to receiving the Secretary of State's response."

Mr Gray said he understood if Mr Browne could not make the information public for risk of impinging on national security but hoped he would accept the need for answers amid growing public concern.

The move follows renewed calls by relatives of the servicemen killed in Iraq to have the vital firefighting equipment immediately fitted to all RAF Hercules troop carriers.

Military Families Against the War have demanded that the MoD fit explosive suppressant foam (ESF) to the entire Hercules fleet and collected more than 700 names on a petition.

The entire crew of Hercules XV179 including eight from RAF Lyneham died when the aircraft was brought down by small-arms fire north of Baghdad 18 months ago. Two of the dead came from Swindon Master Engineer Gary Nicholson, 42, of Stratton, and Flight Sergeant Mark Gibson, 34, of Sparcells.

In December, an RAF board of inquiry said the crash was not survivable but did state that the lack of a fuel tank safety system could have contributed to the crash.