A cockpit recording of a US pilot opening fire on British forces can now be used in the inquest into the death of a Berkshire soldier, an official has said.

Coroner's officer Geoff Webb said the inquest into the death of Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, of Windsor, could be shown the footage if the Sun newspaper fulfilled a promise to give Coroner Andrew Walker a copy of the tape.

Mr Webb said: "This material is now in the public domain and that means that it can be used in the Matty Hull inquest."

In the recording, the pilot of one of two US A-10 Thunderbolt jets involved in the attack says, after they realise their mistake: "We're in jail dude".

The other pilot, who opened fire, weeps, saying: "God dammit."

The Sun published the transcript after obtaining a tape of the recording of the moment that one of the jets launched two devastating attacks on the British armoured convoy, killing L/Cpl Hull and injuring several of his comrades.

The Ministry of Defence initially told L/Cpl Hull's family the recording did not exist, but it found its way into the hands of Oxford coroner Andrew Walker, who is hearing the inquest into the soldier's death. The MoD refused to comment on the contents of the videotape.

Last week Mr Walker adjourned the inquest in frustration at the MoD's failure to get the permission of the US authorities to use the recording in evidence.

Meanwhile, Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman said L/Cpl Hull's family must "get all the information available".

She added: "People do understand that, in armed conflict situations, terrible accidents do sometimes happen, but what I think people do not understand or accept is the notion that the truth should be revealed.