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Human bones found on site of former care home in Leicestershire

Remains discovered by workers demolishing building in Melton Mowbray

Peter Stubley
Saturday 19 October 2019 18:26 BST
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Aerial view of a police forensics tent at the site of a former care home in Melton Mowbray
Aerial view of a police forensics tent at the site of a former care home in Melton Mowbray (Tristan Potter/SWNS)

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Police have launched an investigation after human bones were found at a former care home in Leicestershire.

The remains were discovered by workers demolishing buildings at Catherine Dalley House in Melton Mowbray on Thursday afternoon.

Officers have cordoned off the area near Scalford Road while further enquiries take place.

However police said the bones were not linked to any other ongoing investigation.

“A small quantity of human remains have been found at this stage which have been confirmed as being human bones,” said detective inspector Tim Lindley of Leicestershire Police.

“Work is now being carried out to determine the length of time they have been in the ground.

“Enquiries are in the very early stages and it will be a lengthy process to establish the full circumstances of this finding.”

Neighbours speculated that the bones predated the building of the care home in 1973.

“We haven’t got a clue who it is,” said Hilary Lawrence, 65, a former history teacher. “Where the tent is was the car park from the old people’s home.

“I would imagine they pre-date the home. I’m thinking they are going to be old bones and not from the inmates.”

Gareth Jones, 78, said: “The bones could be more than 100 years old. There’s never been any murders, disappearances or unsolved crimes and I’ve lived here 50 years.

“There used to be two police houses over the road. It wouldn’t have been a good place to dump a body.”

The 31-bed care home was run by Leicestershire County Council until its closure in 2016.

Planning permission has been granted for 50 retirement bungalows and apartments on the site as a part of a multi-million pound redevelopment project.

Additional reporting by SWNS

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