HEAVY rains have uncovered the remains of a young man buried 150 years ago in a Rossendale churchyard.

When Louise and Gareth Cooper built their house next door to St Mary and All Saints Church in Goodshaw Lane, Goodshaw, they always knew something might turn up.

Louise said: "When the builders were excavating the foundations, I even buried a plastic skull for them to find because they expected to come across some remains!

"We had been digging out to build a garden, but it was only when the rains came that we noticed the bones.

"We found part of a jaw which had the most brilliant pearly white teeth, but we have been told the remains are thought to have come from the grave of a man who died when he was 24. We also found a part of an arm or leg bone and a mother-of-pearl button."

Louise said her son Josh, five, was learning about bones in school and wanted to take them in and show his friends. Her other son Sam, nine, was disappointed they didn't find a full skull but her 16-month-old daughter Ceinwyn wasn't bothered.

The church's curate, the Rev Eric Lomax, said: "They contacted me to say they had uncovered some bones by the side of the wall. "I followed the correct protocol and contacted the police who agreed the remains, a jaw bone, leg bone, some teeth and a mother-of pearl button, appeared to be about 150 years old and from the graveyard.

"They called out CID and a scenes of crime officer, neither of whom really wanted to touch the remains, so I put them in a bag inside the vestry of the church.

"The churchyard is obviously full to bursting or things like this wouldn't happen!"

The church has applied to the Home Office to have the graveyard declared full and then responsibility for its maintenance and upkeep would become the responsibility of Rossendale Council.

Mr Lomax said: "I think it would be for the benefit of all the people in the area if the council would take on responsibility for the graveyard and they could make it tidy.

"At the moment, it needs quite a lot of work doing on it and it is more than the congregation can take care of themselves."

The man's remains will be re-buried in the churchyard when Mr Lomax will perform a simple service - and this time he hopes he really will rest in peace.

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