'Human remains' found under Aldi supermarket car park

Suspected human remains have been found by engineers underneath an Aldi car park in Greater Manchester.

Police were called at around 2.10pm yesterday after the discovery beneath the site on Leech Street in Stalybridge.

It is understood contractors uncovered a ‘skull and shoulder blade’ which appear to be human.

A photograph appears to show a contractor and council officials looking down into the excavated car park.

The site is believed to be a former burial ground on the site of an old chapel.

The car park formerly belonged to Tameside Council until it was sold to Aldi supermarket.

Police say they have now launched a investigation to confirm whether the bones found there are in fact human.

If so, they will seek to determine if they are from the old burial ground - or if they were buried there more recently.

Witnesses reported seeing police and council officials at the site on Tuesday afternoon.

VIDEO FROM THE SCENE:

They said work stopped abruptly after heavy machinery churned up the old car park behind Melbourne Street.

It’s understood police remained at the scene throughout the afternoon.

Greater Manchester Police said the remains are yet to be moved and a police tent covering the site is still in place.

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.