The body of Dr David Kelly, the government chemical weapons expert who killed himself in 2003 after being outed as the source of a BBC story, has been exhumed, police have confirmed.

The scientist's family reportedly had his remains cremated after asking for the grave to be dug up because they were upset it was being "desecrated" by conspiracy theorists who believe Kelly was murdered.

According to the Sunday Times, a source close to the scientist's relatives claimed the Justice for Kelly campaign group placed placards and notes by the grave and held vigils there, upsetting Janice Kelly, his widow. "[She] hated it, she felt it was a desecration, and asked the police to get them to stop," a family source told the newspaper.

The campaigners admitted to putting a placard calling for an inquest by the grave but insisted they had not desecrated it.