A curse engraved on his tomb in Stratford may have saved William Shakespeare's remains from exhumation, according to an academic. Shakespeare was buried 391 years ago - on April 25, 1616 - in Holy Trinity Church.

The fact that he still rests in peace could be thanks to the curse on his tomb, which Dr Philip Schwyzer, of Exeter University, said showed his personal phobia of exhumation.

Shakespeare's tomb inscription reads: "Good friend for Jesus sake forebeare,/ To digg the dust encloased heare,/ Bleste be ye man yt spares thes stones,/ And curst be he yt moves my bones."

Dr Schwyzer, senior lecturer in Renaissance literature and culture, said: "Shakespeare had an unusual obsession with burial and a fear of exhumation.

"His epitaph marks his final, uncompromising statement on a theme that preoccupied him throughout his career as a writer for the stage."

The academic said: "Real anxiety about the mistreatment or exhumation of corpses is found in at least 16 of the 37 plays, including a clear majority of the histories and tragedies, and this anxiety is often more pronounced than the fear of death in itself."

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