A FORMER Blackburn Rovers apprentice who joined the Scots Guards to be "one of the lads" died in the corridor of his barracks following a forbidden booze binge with his colleagues.

But a coroner has ruled out the suggestion that Clitheore soldier Martin Rimmer -- who also had traces of Ecstasy in his blood -- had been the victim of bullying or racism before his death.

His body was found in London's Wellington Barracks -- with the letter 'H' shaved on his chest and one eyebrow shaved off.

He had also been covered in camouflage cream by his colleagues.

Today Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans called for lessons to be learned to prevent a similar tragedy happening again.

The guardsman's mother Mrs Patricia Rimmer, of St Paul's Street, Clitheroe, told the inquest how Martin, 22, had been heartbroken when his football career failed to take off in 1997 but had joined the army because he wanted to have a good time.

Mrs Rimmer told Westminster Coroner Dr Paul Knapman he had been the subject of some racial "banter" but he had never complained to her that it was a great problem for him.

The dead man's girlfriend, black actress Marlaine Gordon, who has appeared in EastEnders, his friends, and other relatives attended the hearing, but declined to comment afterwards.

After the verdict of misadventure was announced Mrs Rimmer and her dead son's former colleagues hugged each other tearfully.

The guardsman was found dead in the early morning of February 11 after an all-day drinking session with fellow guardsmen.

Guardsman Mark McConnachie, who said he had not been drinking, said he did not think Martin looked well but as far as he could see he was just asleep and snoring.

Not long before his death he had carried out duties with the Queen's Guards at Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and St James' Palace. His short career had also seen his serve in Northern Ireland with the Royal Ulster Constabulary around the Drumcree marches.

Pathologist Dr Nat Carey gave the cause of death as inhalation of vomit in association with acute alcoholic poisoning.

Dr Carey said that, as well as having 420mg of alcohol in his blood -- more than five times the legal limit for driving -- there were also traces of ecstasy, although he did not think this contributed significantly to the death.

Asked by Dr Knapman whether she agreed that her son had wanted to be "one of the lads," she replied: "Absolutely -- one of the reasons he joined the army was to have a good time with the lads."

She said 18 months after leaving Rovers he joined the Guards and was chosen as the fittest new recruit shortly afterwards.

Dr Knapman said: "I am satisfied that the death was a result of very, very heavy drinking by young soldiers, betting and goading each other on to drink more and more," he said.

Guardsman Lee Hopgood told the inquest that on Saturday, February 10, it was the officers' weekend off and he and Martin Rimmer started drinking bottles of Stella and vodka at about 2pm, while watching television.

The inquest heard that Guardsman Rimmer had been bet £50 that he could not drink a half litre of vodka.

Some time after 10pm he fell asleep but when he woke up Martin was lying on the floor unconscious, wearing only his boxer shorts.

Guardsman Hopgood admitted shaving the letter 'H' onto Martin's chest and shaving off an eyebrow as a "practical joke" before he and guardsman David Phee daubed the camouflage cream on him.

Martin was found dead on the corridor of the communal bedroom the next day.

Dr Knapman said he was satisfied that he had heard the gist of what had taken place.

He added: "I am satisfied also that violence, bullying and racial overtones are no part of the story."

He said he was encouraged to hear that patrols to discourage drinking sessions like this -- which were in any case already banned from guardsmen's sleeping quarters -- had been increased since the tragedy.

Five soldiers were arrested, given bail and four were subsequently released without charge. One soldier, however, believed to have been a close friend of the dead man, was later reported to have gone absent without leave.

After the hearing, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "Guardsman Rimmer was a popular soldier, very keen on sport and particularly football. Our hearts go out to his family at this very sad time."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "This shows the dangers of alcohol abuse and lessons must be learned to prevent it happening again and again.

"The military must do more to try and prevent such binges and persuade squaddies that if it does happen and people become unwell they should seek medical attention immediately. If that had happened in this case, a young man would still be alive.

"It's tragic that a promising young life has been ended in this way.