POLICE officers are expecting to spend the rest of the Easter weekend completing an inch-by-inch search of an old rubbish tip where human remains were found.

Bones were unearthed by a digger driver at the site near Strensall, north of York, on Thursday.

The grisly find was unearthed 3ft to 4ft down by contractors working on a drainage project.

They stopped work immediately and called in police who asked for a Home Office pathologist to examine the remains.

It was confirmed on Thursday that the bones were human, but a detailed forensic examination of the site is expected to last for several days.

The police spokesman said: "A full forensic scene examination is under way with scenes of crime officers and specialist search teams, together with digging equipment.

"It will take some time to look for more remains and other evidence relating to this matter.

"The items which have been recovered will be taken to a forensic laboratory and analysed, but we do not know if they are male or female or how long they may have been there." The tip was last used about 20 years ago.

In the meantime, anyone who may have information which could help detectives is urged to call York Police on (01904) 631321.