Graves moved during police station work

Human remains and memorials dating back to the late 19th century have been dug up as part of plans to build a new police station in north Shropshire.

Workmen have been on site at Market Drayton Police Station on Salisbury Road this week to remove the graves, which will be moved to Market Drayton Town Cemetery.

West Mercia Police believed eight people were buried at the disused burial ground which dates back to the 1800s. But spokesman Rachel Anstee confirmed today they discovered than they expected. "We have got more than eight bodies, I don't know exactly how many," she said.

She added as part of the plans to move the remains a public notice was published by the police in an attempt to trace any descendants living locally.

She said: "The date for any interested parties passed on November 4 last year. We received no expressions of interest."

She added it is hoped the excavation of the graves will be completed by the end of the week.

The existing Market Drayton police station is situated on a large plot and is a building dating back to the 1930s.

A start date for the new building is yet to be confirmed.