FIREFIGHTERS clearing up the scene of a fire in North Yorkshire have unearthed what are believed to be human remains.

Gateforth Park, a former mushroom farm near Thorpe Willoughby, was targeted by arsonists on Thursday afternoon, and fire crews returned to the scene on Friday to dig a trench around the site.

North Yorkshire Police set up a perimeter around the find, and today confirmed that parts of what are believed to be human bones were found in the soil near the scene.

A police spokesperson said a forensic archaeologist had been called in from West Yorkshire to examine the discovery, after which more details about the bones could be released.

UPDATE: A statement released tonight by North Yorkshire Police has confirmed that the bones were human, and probably more than a century old.

“It has now been confirmed by a forensic archaeologist that the bones found are human and represent five individuals,” said the statement.

“All indications are that they date back to the middle ages. There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding this find.”