The Ministry of Defence is embroiled in a discrimination row after backing a range of "HM Armed Forces" model soldiers that ignores women and whose promotional campaign snubs black and Asian troops.

The figures, created with the help of senior officials from the army, navy and RAF, carry the MoD logo and are designed to represent the modern face of Britain's military.

However, the 25cm all-male models - including commandos, infantry, pilots, divers and parachutists - were criticised last night for insulting the 17,900 women in the armed forces. The MoD was also accused of racism after 25 images of the toy figures posted on a website promoting the range were all white-skinned.

Des Feely, whose 26-year-old daughter Sarah Bryant was killed in Afghanistan last year, said the decision to ignore female recruits appeared "overtly macho" and said he could not understand why the contribution of women had been overlooked.

Tory MP Patrick Mercer, an, ex-infantry officer, said: "It is extraordinary they have chosen to exclude women and Gurkhas, whose contributions are vital to the modern British army."

Manufacturer Character Group said it was looking at introducing a female figure next year.