Chichester: Suspected human remains found near layby by workmen

The bone, believed to be a human skull, was found near a layby on the B2141 just after midday on Thursday in Chilgrove near Chichester.

Police are now searching a wooded area and the road has been closed on one side with temporary traffic lights in place as the investigation is carried out.

Any further remains recovered will be sent for specialist examinations and testing. It is currently being treated as unexplained and officers are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

Chief Inspector Jon Carter, District Commander for Arun and Chichester, said: ‘Our enquiries are ongoing as we seek to establish how long these suspected human remains have been at this location, and how they came to be here.

‘This is a complex process which is likely to take several weeks at least before we will know the age of the remains with any certainty.

‘In order to allow the continued searches to be carried out safely, the road has been reduced to a single carriageway and there are temporary traffic signals in place. We are grateful for road users’ care and patience if they are travelling past this location.

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‘This discovery is currently being treated as unexplained, and I would urge anyone with any information which could assist in our investigation – no matter how insignificant they think it may be – to contact us.’

Report online or call 101, quoting Operation Sunlight.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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