- Workers developing the car park of the recently-opened store found the bones
- They are believed to be human and include a skull and a shoulder-blade
- Police say the site is believe to have been previously used as a burial ground
- Detectives are trying to work out whether the bones were recently buried
Suspected human remains have been discovered underneath an Aldi car park.
Police experts were called in after reports human remains were found by contractors working on a new supermarket car park in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester.
It is understood contractors uncovered a ‘skull and shoulder blade’ which they believe are human.
Police moved in this morning after bones were discovered beneath an Aldi supermarket
The bones were found by workmen developing the area, said to have been a burial ground
Police said the location was believed to be a former burial ground on the site of an old chapel.
A police spokesman said: ‘Further inquiries are ongoing to ascertain whether or not the remains are human and if they are from an ancient burial ground.’
A post on the Stalybridge Town Facebook page said excavation work at the site had come to an ‘abrupt halt’ after the suspected remains were discovered on Tuesday afternoon.
The car park formerly belonged to Tameside Council until it was sold to Aldi.
The discovery prompted speculation as to whether there was a link with the former Grosvenor Street Methodist Church.
There was also reflection on a similar discovery of ‘human remains’ in recent history – when a canal in the town centre was dug out, exposing plots from an old Methodist cemetery.
The gruesome discovery was made by workman at the recently-opened store in Stalybridge
The news also prompted reaction on social media, with many making reference to the 2013 discovery of the remains of English king Richard III in a car park in Leicester.
Twitter user Jane Browne posted: ‘Wow, which king is it this time?’
A council spokesman said: ‘It’s understood the police believe the remains are from an old burial ground which was exhumed in the late 1960s.
‘Once they have concluded their inquiries, and the coroner is satisfied with the outcome, we will make sure any remains recovered will receive a dignified reinterment at Dukinfield Cemetery.’