Oxfordshire scientist David Kelly took his own life after being placed under "immense pressure", the Hutton Report into his death concluded today.

But in Southmoor, villagers described the inquiry's findings as "a whitewash" and claimed their former neighbour had been made a "scapegoat".

Lord Hutton ruled out any third-party involvement or conspiracy into the death of Dr Kelly, whose body was found on Harrowdown Hill, near Longworth, close to his Southmoor home.

He said: "I'm satisfied that Dr Kelly took his own life by cutting his left wrist. His death was hastened by the taking of Co-proxomal. I am satisfied that there was no involvement of a third person."

Lord Hutton went on to say that he was convinced that none of the other parties involved in the case had any idea that Dr Kelly would commit suicide.

He said he was satisfied that evidence presented to the inquiry showed there had been no struggle at the scene where Dr Kelly's body was discovered by volunteer search teams using dogs.

Dr Kelly was criticised for meeting BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan without informing his bosses at the Ministry of Defence.

Lord Hutton said it was not possible to say exactly what was said between Dr Kelly and Mr Gilligan, but he was confident Dr Kelly did not say the Government probably knew or expected the 45-minute WMD claim was wrong.

In his home village of Southmoor, residents were adament in their support of Dr Kelly.

David Ritchings, of Longworth, described the report as "a whitewash".

"The whole business proved too much for Dr Kelly," he said. "I always had that sneaky feeling that the Government would come out squeaky-clean. Dr Kelly was not a fool but a highly intelligent man who deserved better than being made a scapegoat".

Frances Brooks, of Southmoor, agreed: "I am disgusted with the whole business. Tony Blair and his Government should be held responsible for a lot of what has happened.

"I knew Dr Kelly. He was a kind and friendly man who would help you if he could. He has been made a scapegoat and the report does nothing to change my mind."

Duncan Gilbert, of Longworth, said: "Dr Kelly held an important position. He was involved in very sensitive and secret work and should not have spoken to the media. But he was badly treated by politicians on the Parliamentary Select Committee. Despite the Hutton Report, I think others should take some responsibility for the tragic events surrounding Dr Kelly."

Official publication of the Hutton Report was pre-empted by a leaked report of its findings in The Sun newspaper today.

The Prime Minister Tony Blair was cleared of lying but the BBC was heavily criticised for broadcasting an "unfounded" allegation that the Government "sexed-up" its Iraqi weapons dossier.

BBC director-general, Greg Dyke, and Andrew Gilligan, whose flawed Radio 4 report of his conversation with Dr Kelly sparked the row between the BBC and Whitehall, are strongly criticised.

Lord Hutton described the claim that Iraq could launch WMDs within 45 minutes as a "grave allegation on a matter of great importance".

Both Tony Blair and his former press chief, Alaistair Campbell, who was accused of requesting the changes to the dossier, escape largely unscathed.

Evan Harris, MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, described the leak as "extremely regrettable".

"I have never been of the view that within the narrow remit of the Hutton Inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly, the blame -- such as it was -- was on only one side or the other.

"The key question was, is and will be why was parliament told that we were going to war on the basis of a threat from WMD that patently do not and did not exist?"