Coroner calls for better protection for British troops after four soldiers, including Prince William's female friend, die in bomb attack

Speaking at an inquest into the deaths of four British soldiers - one of whom was a friend of Prince William's - coroner David Masters claimed many military vehicles were insufficiently armoured.

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The inquest heard the soldiers died because their Warrior vehicle did not have good enough blast protection on its underbelly.

Having been told this was "an urgent operational issue", Mr Masters said he would "seek confirmation that something is being done".

His comments were echoed by the mother of one of the soldiers, who appealed for more funding to ensure troop safety.

The criticism comes days after a coroner blamed the death of Para officer James Philippson in Afghanistan on an "unforgivable" lack of basic equipment.

The four soldiers died when their Warrior was attacked on April 5 last year as they drove through Basra.

One of them, Second Lieutenant Joanna Dyer, 24, an Oxford graduate, had been at Sandhurst Military Academy with Prince William.

The Prince said he was "absolutely devastated" by his friend's death.

The other victims were Corporal Kris O'Neill, 27, Private Eleanor Dlugosz, 19, and Kingsman Adam James Smith, 19.

Yesterday's inquest heard that insurgents detonated a huge bomb as the Warrior drove over it.

The explosion was followed by rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.

The bomb, known as an Explosively Formed Projectile, fires molten copper shrapnel which penetrates vehicle plating, body armour and helmets.

Cpl Michael Carr, one of three soldiers in the Warrior to have survived, said: "I remember hearing a bang and that was it. Next thing I remember I was looking up at the moon."

The inquest, in Trowbridge, Wiltshire was told the MoD is researching ways to improve vehicle protection.

Recording verdicts of unlawful killing, Mr Masters said he would request a meeting with Armed Forces Minster Bob Ainsworth to recommend the issue is dealt with speedily.

After the inquest, Cpl O'Neill's mother Mr Valerie O'Neill, from West Yorkshire, said: "This can't happen again. The bombs have become more and more sophisticated."

An MoD spokesman confirmed it was working to "increase protection" but added: "There is no such thing as perfect protection and armour alone is not the answer."