Christopher Marlowe is to be credited on a re-release of William Shakespeare's work, Oxford University Press has confirmed.

The playwright has long been suspected as being a major contributor to the Bard's efforts and the two dramatists will jointly appear on the title pages for the three Henry VI plays in the new collection.

The decision for the upcoming edition, called New Oxford Shakespeare,  comes after the experts using modern analytical methods revisited the question of whether Shakespeare collaborated with others.

Scholars found that Marlowe's contribution had been verified "strongly and clearly enough" for a joint credit.

Research conducted by 23 international scholars concluded that 17 of 44 Shakespeare plays were written with the help of another author or authors.

An OUP spokesman said said: "Identifying Marlowe's hand in the Henry VI plays is just one of the fresh features of this project."

This will be the first time Marlowe, the author of Doctor Faustus, will be credited in a Shakespeare publication despite being suspected of having lent a creative hand to the plays as far back as the 17th Century.