A HUMAN skeleton has been found by a man landscaping his garden with neighbours describing the scenes like something “out of Silent Witness”.
Police are investigating after the remains were discovered at a property in Ancaster, Lincolnshire yesterday.
The force said it is unknown how old the bones are and formal identification has yet to take place.
It added that officers would be stationed around the house while investigations are carried out.
Residents living in Brookside said police vans, cars and forensics units descended on their small cul-de-sac on Saturday afternoon.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, compared the scene to BBC drama “Silent Witness”.
He added: “[The resident] has not lived there long, he started digging last weekend.
“I have lived here 16 years and nothing like this has ever happened before. Time Team have been here before, so I would say it’s probably Roman. It’s a quiet village.”
Maureen and Bill Higgins, 76 and 78, live next door to the grim discovery.
They said they had lived in the area for four years, and described it as “quiet”.
Bill said: “We just wondered what was going on when we saw the police. [The resident] has been sorting out his garden and he has dug up a few bones.
“There was an older man who lived here before.
“Nothing happens around here – we just hope it is someone who has been there for a long, long time. It could be Roman.”
Neighbour Malcolm Lister, 82, said the owner of the home had not lived there long and was doing the house up.
He said: “I did not know them – they have not been there long. This is a quiet area – we know people by sight and one or two by name, other than that everyone keeps themselves to themselves.
“There were initially two police cars and four vans here, the Crime Scene Investigation unit turned up too. They went in and had a look but we really do not know what’s going on.”
Yesterday afternoon a spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: “We are investigating after the remains of a human skeleton were discovered in Ancaster earlier today (March 8).
“Officers were called to a property on Brookside Close, where the bones were discovered by members of the public.
“At this stage, it is unknown how old these remains are, and formal identification is yet to take place.
“There will be a visible police presence in the area as we continue to examine the scene.
“We will release updates as and when we have them. Incident 161 of March 8 relates.”