BODY parts from King John's tomb in Worcester Cathedral are to go on display at a Magna Carta exhibition in London.

A thumb, which possibly belonged to the monarch, and two molars, which certainly did, will give visitors to the PACCAR Gallery, in the British Library, plenty to get their teeth into.

The two molars, removed as souvenirs when King John's tomb was opened in 1797, will go on display together with two original copies of Magna Carta, in what is being billed as "the largest exhibition ever staged about this world-famous document".

John's tomb, on the pavement of the Quire in the Cathedral, has been opened twice.

In 1529, the king's head was covered with a monk's cowl, and the box part of the tomb was added.

The teeth were taken as a curiosity when the the tomb was opened for a second time, in 1797, and an antiquarian study of the body was made.

King John was found to be 5 ft 6½inches, about average for the Middle Ages.

A Worcester Cathedral account of the tomb opening states: "A robe of crimson damask was originally covering the body, but by 1797 most of the embroidery had deteriorated. The remains of a sword lay down the left side of the body, and parts of the scabbard."

Julian Harrison, curator at the British Library, said: "Certain of his body parts removed as souvenirs.

"On display in Magna Carta: Law, Liberty, Legacy will be two of King John's molars, taken from the tomb by William Wood, a stationer's apprentice, and kindly being loaned to our exhibition by Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum."

He added: "On show with them will be a thumb bone, reputedly that of King John, which was returned to the Cathedral in 1957. We're thrilled that we are going to have these items in our Magna Carta exhibition, and we're extremely grateful to the two institutions concerned for so kindly agreeing to lend them to us. "

The exhibition will also include some items of clothing and part of a leather shoe found in the tomb, and King John's will.

Also on show will be Thomas Jefferson's handwritten copy of the Declaration of Independence and one of the original copies of the US Bill of Rights.

Magna Carta is a charter agreed by King John at Runnymede in 1215. It is widely credited as a document which laid the basis of civil liberties, including trial by jury, and is also viewed as a foundation of Parliamentary democracy.

The exhibition is open at the British Library, Euston Road, from March 13 to September 1.