HUMAN bones have been found in a Worcestershire village, police have confirmed.

People in the village of Kempsey, near Worcester, have been left shocked by the discovery of human remains, which are understood to have been found in Bestman's Lane.

Specialist officers from West Mercia Police were seen excavating the bones in the area on Friday.

A police spokesman said officers made the discovery at 4.30pm. They immediately launched an investigation and say all lines of enquiry are being explored.

Police have not revealed the exact location where the bones were found. They are yet to be identified, with a post mortem examination under way.

Detective Chief Inspector Carl Moore said: “We are in the very early stages of an investigation and enquiries are currently ongoing.

"We are treating this as an unexplained death and are awaiting the results of a post mortem examination.

“This could be a lengthy process but we will continue to update the public in due course.”

An investigation has been launched and all lines of enquiry are being explored.

UPDATE (Tuesday evening): Police statement: "We are aware of some speculation that this discovery may be linked to the disappearance of [estate agent] Suzy Lamplugh, who went missing in the 1980s.

"Although we don't believe it to be, until we have the forensic post mortem results we are not in a position to link it to any particular person at this stage."

John Hickman, a Kempsey resident, said: "It [the discovery] has been the talk of the village.

"There has been confusion about what was going on.

"Rumours have talked about the remains being found by workmen who tipped off the police."

Councillor David Harrison, who has lived in the village for more than six decades, said: "The only similar thing I can remember was when they were building flood defences and found bones. That was linked back to the Romans though."