A senior figure in the army has admitted some forces' accommodation was of a "poor standard" and said it must fight its corner to get service families what they deserved.

The adjutant-general, Lt Gen Freddie Viggers, who is the army's personnel chief, said: "There is still too much accommodation which is of a poor standard, which is old, and which is not modern in the way it's fitted for families."

Soldiers have complained about barracks and shower blocks with cracked walls, mildew and broken pipes.

Jennifer James, the mother of one serving soldier, said: "He complains about the smell, the puddles of water on the floor from the leaky toilets, and wishes he could get out."

Defence Minister Derek Twigg today said: "We've got a sustained programme of investment in accommodation.

"We've spent £700m last year in improving service accommodation.

"We recognise there is a challenge, we recognise the accommodation is not perfect and we need to improve it."

However, Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "There is an unspoken understanding when we send people out to fight and potentially die in our name, that our part of the bargain is to make sure they and their families are properly looked after.

"If they're not getting the appropriate accommodation that's up to standards that they believe are adequate, they believe that contract has been broken, and are more likely to leave the armed forces."

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Our accommodation is not perfect, but we are working to get it right."