THE Home Office has been called in after human remains were discovered during building work at a luxury housing development. Demolition workers were stunned by the find at the Gleeson Homes site in the grounds of the former Moor Hospital. It is thought the area was an old burial ground and the Home Office is now making arrangements for a suitable re-burial at a local ceremony.

One worker told the Citizen: "We had to stop work while the police and experts were called in. You sometimes find bones on big developments like this but this find got all the lads talking. It looks like some sort of old cemetery. It was pretty grisly."

An archaeologist with the Lancashire County Archaeology Service, Mr Peter McCrone was contacted by the police to look at the bones.

He said: "There are maps and plans from the last century which does shows a burial ground on that site. The cemetery was supposedly cleared when one the newer buildings at the former Victorian asylum was built. I understand that during demolition work on that particular building they removed a floor slab and made the discovery."

He added: "There is legislation in place regarding disused burial grounds. It says that if human remains are encountered they should be removed and reburied with reverence and shielded from the public gaze." Sgt Paul Denny confirmed that he had been called to the building site.

"There were bones found on the site which are thought to be graves of cholera victims."

The entire site, to be called Standen Park, is currently being developed by the Blackburn-based Gleeson Homes.

A statement from their public relations company said: "Gleeson Homes has worked closely with the Coroner's Office on this matter. The Home Office has now taken charge of the situation and is making arrangements for a suitable re-burial at the local cemetery."

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