A FORMER soldier who asked Tony Blair to make a U-turn over pay cuts for Britain's overseas war grave gardeners has hit out at the Prime Minister's response.

War hero Ernie Hamilton, aged 78, slammed the Labour leader for replying to his letter with a brief sentence.

The staunch Labour voter said the party "had crossed the line" and accused them of doing something "even Margaret Thatcher would not have done."

He was incensed at the reply penned by Downing Street official Dean Harris, writing on behalf of Mr Blair.

The letter said: "The Prime Minister has asked me to thank you for your recent letter to tell you the views you have expressed have been carefully noted."

The standard reply, according to Mr Hamilton, from Worsley, showed the contempt with which the issue was being dealt.

The former sergeant, who fought from June 1940 with the 15/19 Kings Royal Hussars served through Normandy on to the Baltics, said: "I wish these people would leave their plush offices and consider for one minute what people like myself went through for this country.

"I have seen things I will never forget, witnessed death on a large scale, and this is how this Government repays my colleagues."

Meanwhile, David Crausby, Bolton North East MP, has received a reply from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, accusing the media of "selective and inaccurate reporting."

It said it had "decided to hold an independent review of the proposed changes to the remuneration of its gardeners and other UK based staff overseas."

The letter promised to "delay changes to the system until this is concluded."

Mr Crausby said: "A number of constituents in Bolton have contacted me on the issue of war graves and I think they may be very interested in the reply I received."

News of the forthcoming inquiry has pleased Mr Hamilton who said: "It may be a step in the right direction. We will win this fight just as we won the last."

Bolton's former fighters are furious that members of the government, together with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, are calling for British gardeners to be replaced by cheaper local people.