Fears a human bone had been unearthed by badgers have been dismissed after an Ashford Borough Council (ABC) officer was called to a cemetery.

But the badger sett has disturbed what has been described as “a very old grave” and several others have sunk in a corner of Cranbrook Road cemetery, near Tenterden.

The cemetery is maintained by ABC, who say they have contacted Natural England for advice over what to do about the badgers, a protected species.

An ABC spokesman said the bone discovered appeared to be a “meat joint bone, rather than a human bone”.

Cranbrook Road cemetery opened in 1887, and the first graves date from around 1890.

A badger sett is occupying a spot under a yew tree at the rear boundary of the cemetery.

The spokesman said: “The council is in touch with Natural England about what can be reasonably done, but of course badgers are a protected species, so we need to take sensible advice on this.

“The ground will sink in graves over many years.

“This happens naturally and can happen as a result of animal disturbance, such as that from badgers and also rabbits.

“It’s a very common thing to happen in cemeteries up and down the land – it’s not particular to this one.”

It is unlikely the families of the affected plots can be found due to the age of the graves.

The spokesman added: “There is, of course, a very strong chance that we will not trace the owner of graves of this age, as any details we may have will be more than 100-years-old.”

ABC is also carrying out an inspection of memorial headstones at Cranbrook Road cemetery and will be informing relatives of works that need to be done as a result of this programme as necessary, which may also form part of a report to cabinet.

Tenterden Town Council has just taken the contract on for grass cutting at the cemetery and is liaising with ABC to find a solution from a health and safety perspective.