THE body of tragic Iraq WMD inspector Dr David Kelly has mysteriously been exhumed.

Police confirmed his remains have been moved from a churchyard near his home and the headstone taken down.

8 The site of Dr Kelly's former grave, now covered in fresh turf

A source said: “It was removed in secret. One day his headstone was there. The next it was gone and the plot had been dug up and then covered in fresh turf.”

Dr Kelly, 59, was found dead in a wood in 2003 shortly after being named as the source of a BBC report claiming the Government “sexed up” a crucial dossier about whether Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

He was ruled to have taken his own life — but questions about his death have persisted.

Dr David Kelly files released

8 Dr Kelly was said to have given information to the BBC that was behind a report exposing government 'embellishment' of a dossier over-hyping the threat posed by Saddam Hussein Credit: Getty Images - Getty

8 The investigation into the tragic death of Dr Kelly left many unsatisfied Credit: PA:Press Association

8 His grave shortly after her was interred, before the headstone was installed Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd

Blair's dodgy dossier used to justify war in Iraq DR David Kelly was the central figure in the controversy surrounding a Government dossier that claimed Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction — the justification for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. PM Tony Blair then used the dossier to bolster his insistence that Saddam could deploy his WMD within 45 minutes. But a BBC news report claimed the dossier had been “sexed up”. Dr Kelly, who helped compile the dossier, was identified as the source of the BBC story. In July 2003 he was forced to give evidence to a Commons committee. Afterwards he emailed reporters claiming there were “many dark actors playing games”. He later went for a walk but never returned home. His body was found in a wood. Lord Hutton’s inquiry into Dr Kelly’s death ruled he killed himself. But campaigners, including Lib Dem MP Norman Baker, claimed Dr Kelly may have been murdered. They said he practised the Ba’Hai faith, which expressly forbids suicide.

It is thought Dr Kelly’s family may have asked for his body to be moved from St Mary’s Church, Longworth, Oxfordshire, because of “unwelcome activity” from campaigners who say his death was inadequately investigated.

On one occasion they are said to have placed a placard in the graveyard. Unusually, there was no inquest into Dr Kelly’s death.

Instead, a public inquiry chaired by Lord Hutton concluded Dr Kelly killed himself.

Thames Valley Police said: “The body was exhumed a few months ago at the request of his family.”

Biological weapons scientist Dr David Kelly on his field work

8 Dr Kelly being questioned by the Foreign Affairs select committee before his untimely death

8 His tombstone by his grave at the time - but that has now been moved to parts unknown

8 A temporary marker installed after his burial Credit: Reuters

Former MP Norman Baker, who wrote a book about Dr Kelly, said: ‘This should not distract from the central issue which is that 14 years on there has been no proper inquest.”

8 Norman Baker was a Liberal Democrat Home Office minister before resigning as he complained that working under then Home Secretary Theresa May was like 'walking through mud' Credit: PA:Press Association

David Kelly inquest ruled out

EXHUMATIONS are rare and must first be approved by the Ministry of Justice.

It gets 1,000 applications a year, with the most common reason a reburial elsewhere. All are treated “sympathetically”, with a decision normally taking 20 days.

They can also be ordered by a court if a forensic investigation is required. Specialist undertakers will cost around £2,500.