THE father of a naval rating who shot himself during a 22-hour armed siege in Helston last November has claimed the police prevented him from saving his son's life.

Philip Wardle, from Lancashire, spoke out after it was announced that criminal charges would not be brought against the officers involved in the siege, in which 29-year-old Jason Wardle, an air engineering mechanic with 771 squadron at RNAS Culdrose, died at a house in Church Hill.

His father drove from his Lancashire home to Helston during the stand-off, but claims he was not allowed through the police cordon to talk to Jason.

He said the police had admitted Jason presented no danger to members of the public and the situation should have been handled differently.

Armed police surrounded the property in Church Hill last November 5 following reports naval rating Mr Wardle, who was living at the house after splitting up with his girlfriend, was wielding a gun. The area was sealed off and nearby residents told to stay inside their homes, although police said they were not in any danger.

Almost 24 hours after the siege started, officers entered the property and found Mr Wardle's body in the attic.

An investigation was launched by the Police Complaints Authority, but the Crown Prosecution Service, which has since had the file on the case, decided no criminal charges should be brought.

Ian Bynoe, the Independent Police Complaints Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, said: "The Police Complaints Authority started the supervision of the inquiry into Jason's tragic death and we have completed that process.

"It is now for the coroner's inquest to examine all the facts and determine how Jason died and why. Thereafter, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary and the commission will decide if there are any disciplinary outcomes from this investigation."

Originally from the village of Greenfield, near Oldham in Greater Manchester, Mr Wardle was said to have become depressed following the split with his girlfriend.

His death shocked colleagues at RNAS Culdrose, where he was part of a team of mechanics keeping the air station's Sea King helicopters operational. Friends in the town, including at the Rodney Inn in Meneage Street, where Mr Wardle used to work as a barman, were also shocked and upset by the tragedy.

A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "A thorough investigation has been completed under the supervision of the Independent Police Complaints Commission. A file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for their consideration. As a result of the decision by the CPS, a file will now be forwarded to the coroner."

A Cornwall coroner's officer said the inquest was unlikely to be held "for several months".