Police search area after human SKULL is found by roadside – the third set of human remains unearthed in Sussex in three months
- Sussex Police have launched third investigation after human bone discovery
- Latest find was discovered at the side of a B road near Chichester on Thursday
- Forensic and uniformed officers could be seen combing through the woodland
- Police appealing for anyone with information to come forward amid latest find
Police search teams are combing an area of rural Sussex after a human skull was uncovered in a roadside copse.
The discovery is the third of its kind in as many months after human bones were found in West Wittering last Sunday and in Lewes in November.
Sussex Police have confirmed they are not linking the investigations.
Sussex Police launched an investigation after a human skull was discovered at the side of the road in Chilgrove, West Sussex, on Thursday afternoon – the third of its kind since November
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.
‘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.’
Forensic teams are examining a large scene by the side of the B2141 near Chichester following the discovery on Thursday afternoon.
Uniformed officers are combing both sides of the road at Chilgrove.
The remains were found in a copse of trees opposite a lay-by.
It is believed the search for anything else connected to the grim discovery could carry on for several days.
Forensic and uniformed officers have been pictured at the scene today combing for evidence
Sussex Police said they are so far treating the death as unexplained.
A spokesman for the force said: ‘Police were alerted to the discovery of suspected human remains near a lay-by on the B2141 near Chilgrove, Chichester at 12.35pm on Thursday.
‘Forensic specialists have attended the scene to assist with their recovery, and further examination and searching of the area is ongoing.
‘This discovery is being treated as unexplained at this time.’
The discovery of the human skull is the third set of human remains found in the county in as many months.
In November forensic experts began examining human remains found around a church graveyard in Lewes.
Last week, bones thought to be a human skeleton were found on a beach at West Wittering.
Sussex Police are not linking the three finds.
Sussex Police say they are treating the investigation as an unexplained death and that they are not linking this to any previous investigations into discovery of human bones in the county
Archaeologists and a human anthropologist visited the scene in Lewes after a human bone was found next to the St John sub Castro churchyard.
A spokesman said: ‘Sussex Police is working with partner agencies and at this time are not treating this as suspicious.’
An investigation was also launched following the discovery of human remains by a shocked visitor to West Wittering beach on Monday.
A force spokesman said: ‘Specialist forensic teams recovered the bones and have confirmed the remains are human.’