Police today exhumed the body of a man whose bigamist wife was jailed for defrauding a string of lovers.

Julian Webb died of a suspected drugs overdose at his West Sussex home in 1994 while married to Dena Thompson, who was last year cleared of attempting to murder her third husband, Richard.

The advertising boss was the second husband of Thompson, who was jailed at Lewes Crown Court for three years and nine months on 15 counts of deception after she stole £12,000 from him and other men she met.

Sussex Police reopened the investigation into Mr Webb's death following Thompson's conviction.

Mr Webb, 31, who Thompson married bigamously, was found dead in bed at their home in Yapton, near Arundel. An open verdict was recorded at his inquest.

He was buried with his grandparents in St Peter's Church graveyard, Hayling Island, near Portsmouth.

A Sussex Police spokesman said the body was exhumed at about 6am today.

Detective Inspector Martyn Underhill, who is leading the investigation, said: "This was a very difficult decision to take but we have to remember that Julian's death was never explained and was treated as suspicious at the time.

"The events in the last year have led me to reinvestigate this death and I have become more happy about the need to pursue an exhumation."

Mr Underhill said the exhumation had been undertaken with the backing of Mr Webb's family.

A German toxicologist, Dr Hans Sach, recommended by the Harold Shipman inquiry, will conduct tests on Mr Webb's body. He is a specialist in hair toxicology.

The results of the post mortem examination are not expected for up to eight weeks.

Mr Webb was expected to be reburied later today.