A High Court judge has blocked attempts by families of four soldiers, including two from Staffordshire, killed in Iraq to seek compensation from the Government.

Private Phillip Hewett, 21, of Tamworth, died in July 2005 after a Snatch Land Rover was blown up.

Corporal Stephen Allbutt, 35, of Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent, was killed by "friendly fire" in March 2003 after his Challenger 2 tank was hit by another Challenger 2 tank.

Relatives said the Ministry of Defence (MoD) failed to provide armoured vehicles or equipment which could have saved lives and should pay compensation.

But MoD lawyers said decisions about battlefield equipment are for politicians and military commanders and asked the High Court to stop compensation claims going forward.

Mr Justice Owen ruled in favour of the MoD after hearing arguments from all sides during a three-day hearing in London in May.

Lawyers representing families said after the hearing that they aim to appeal.

A spokeswoman for relatives' lawyers said the judge had blocked a claim brought by Pte Hewett's mother, Susan Smith, under the Human Rights Act of 1998.

"Unfortunately the claims of these three claimants were struck out."

She added: "Mr Justice Owen was persuaded that the deceased soldiers were outside the jurisdiction of the UK at the time of their deaths because they were not in the UK nor on a British Army base.

"Therefore the European Convention on Human Rights does not apply at all."

Solicitor Jocelyn Cockburn said the families were appealing against the ruling "because they want the MoD to be accountable for allowing their loved ones to go into combat in vehicles that were manifestly unsuitable for the job."