Evidence about the death of Iraq weapons row scientist David Kelly will be kept secret for 70 years.

Medical records including a postmortem will remain classified until after all those connected with the case are dead.

Lord Hutton, who chaired the inquiry into Dr Kelly's death, imposed the unusually long time limit.

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, who has questioned an inquest verdict of suicide on Dr Kelly, said the decision was "astonishing".

Dr Kelly was found dead in woods close to his Oxfordshire home in 2003.

He had been identified as the source of BBC reports disputing government claims on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.