Paramedics have disputed official claims that Dr David Kelly died after slashing his wrist, saying there was too little blood around the body.

Dr David KellyDr Kelly, 59, of Southmoor, near Abingdon, was found dead at Harrowdown Hill, Longworth, on July 18 last year after being exposed as the source behind a BBC story which claimed that the Government had exaggerated Iraq's military capability to justify an invasion.

His wife Janice raised the alarm after he went missing from his home in Faringdon Road.

Lord Hutton's subsequent inquiry into the scientist's death, ruled that he died by bleeding from wounds to his left wrist.

But Dave Bartlett, an ambulance technician and Vanessa Hunt, 35, a paramedic, who both have more than 15 years' experience, said there was little blood when they arrived at the scene and this led them to believe that it was unlikely Dr Kelly died as a result of the wounds.

At a press conference at Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust's headquarters yesterday at the Churchill Hospital, the two paramedics told how they decided to go public after being approached by The Observer newspaper.

Mr Bartlett said in a statement prepared by his solicitor: "We felt that our observations of the scene where Dr Kelly's body was discovered were inconsistent with the conclusion of the Hutton Inquiry.

"Chiefly, there was very little blood and that is at odds with our experience where people sustain life-threatening wounds by cutting an artery in the wrist.

"It seemed to us unlikely that the wound to the doctor's wrist was the cause of his death."

The pair stressed that this was their personal opinion and not that of the trust.

Mr Bartlett added that although they had gone public on their disagreement with the Hutton Inquiry findings, it was not up to them to call for any other type of inquiry.

Ms Hunt told The Observer: "There wasn't a lot of blood -- when someone cuts an artery, whether accidentally or intentionally, the blood pumps everywhere.

"There was a little bit of blood on the nettles to the left of his left arm but there was no real blood on the body of the shirt.

"The only other blood I saw was on his clothing. It was the size of a 50p piece above the right knee on his trousers."

Mrs Kelly has not spoken about her husband's death apart from giving evidence to the Hutton Inquiry and has since sold their family home.

Steve Ward, landlord of the Hinds Head pub in Kingston Bagpuize, where Dr Kelly played cribbage, criticised The Observer for bringing up the issue again.

He said: "The feeling of people around here is that The Observer should not have brought this up again. The family has been through hell in the last 18 months and they did not need this."

Thames Valley Police said they will not be reopening the case.

Tom Mangold, a former BBC journalist and friend of Dr Kelly, said: "The fact that the paramedics did not find sufficient blood does not mean that it was not spilt.

"Although I am sure they are speaking in good faith there is no doubt in my mind, or anyone else connected with the case, that David committed suicide."