A SCOTS Guardsman being questioned about the death of an East Lancashire soldier has gone absent without leave, it was revealed today.

The man was one of five 1st Battalion guards who was on bail in connection with the death of Martin Rimmer, of Clitheroe.

Guardsman Rimmer, 22, of St Paul's Street, died just before Valentine's Day after an alleged drinking binge while off duty with colleagues. He was found dead in a corridor of his Wellington barracks, half a mile from Buckingham Palace.

An initial post-mortem examination proved inconclusive and toxicology tests were ordered to establish the cause of death. It is understood those tests have now been completed and will be presented at an inquest.

Five guardsmen were arrested and questioned at separate stations throughout London as the police made their inquiries. They were all released on police bail.

A spokesman for New Scotland Yard said: "Four of the guardsmen attended for bail at their allocated station on March 26 and were subsequently released with no further charges.

"However the fifth guard failed to turn up for his bail date and is now classed as absent without leave."

The spokesman refused to release the missing soldier's name or confirm that a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Guardsman Rimmer had been in the army for two years and had served both at home and in Northern Ireland and had taken part in the changing of the guard at Bucking Palace.

He was a proficient athlete who had left St Augustine's RC School, in Billington, to join Blackburn Rovers' youth team. Just before his death he had learned he had been accepted into the army's football team.

The inquest is to be held at the Westminster Coroner's Office on April 25.