FISHERMEN off the North-East coast have made a grim discovery after a suspected human skull was caught up in their nets.
At around noon yesterday, the suspected human remains were discovered in a busy shipping lane off the coast of North Shields.
Lothian and Borders Police said the remains were handed over to officers when the Bonadventure landed at Eyemouth after its skipper alerted the authorities.
The skull, which is being kept in the Borders town of Hawick, will be examined by a forensics expert to establish if it is human.
A police spokesman said: ''Two trawlers were fishing together 130 miles east of Eyemouth, Berwickshire, when the Bonadventure discovered what appears to be a human skull.
''It was then handed over to the police at Eyemouth and a statement was taken from the skipper.
''The skull is being retained and protected until it can be examined.''
Asked about where the remains could have come from, the spokesman said: ''The area where it was found is a busy shipping lane with ferries travelling from Denmark to North Shields.
''Inquiries are continuing.''
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