The Ministry of Defence is coming under increasing pressure to accept the existence of Gulf War syndrome.

It follows the publication of an inquiry report that found there is "every reason" to accept it is a real disorder.

Lord Lloyd of Berwick, a former law lord, said the MoD should compensate thousands of veterans who he said had suffered ill health as a result of their service in the 1991 conflict.

The report said all Gulf veterans were twice as likely to suffer from ill health as those deployed elsewhere.

The report suggests multiple vaccine injections, low level exposure to nerve gas, and depleted uranium dust may have contributed to illnesses.

While it said further research was needed, the inquiry concluded that the MoD should now accept the illnesses were a result of service in the Gulf.

The inquiry was set up at the request of the parliamentary adviser to the Royal British Legion, Lord Morris of Manchester, after the MoD refused an official inquiry.

The MoD refused to allow serving officials or military personnel to appear before the inquiry although it did submit written evidence.

Lord Lloyd condemned the MoD's failure to cooperate fully with his investigation.

"The MoD thus lost a valuable opportunity to start the process of reconciliation with the ill veterans, an opportunity which would have cost them nothing," he said.

The inquiry's findings were welcomed by Lord Morris who said it was "scrupulously fair and balanced in its judgment".

"Its purpose is not to apportion blame but to end deadlock and, by unravelling the truth about Gulf War illnesses, to let right be done," he said.