HOME Office officials today confirmed that human remains had been found on a building site in Folkestone.

The construction site, in Harbour Way, was closed yesterday after police visited following complaints from families living nearby.

Residents of Harbour Way and Elmstead Place claimed they had seen skeletons and skulls unearthed as developers started work on building eight new flats. They say they have seen human bones being taken away by contractors along with rubble from the site.

However, planning consultant Mike Simmonds, acting on behalf of Channel Overseas Contractors, dismissed the claims and said only dog bones had been discovered.

A former Quaker meeting house has already been demolished at the site. Part of the site is a former burial ground.

A Home Office spokesman said: “The Home Office can confirm the police have closed the site and launched an investigation.

“The site was closed following the discovery of human remains.”

Work was halted yesterday afternoon by police visiting the site. Bones which residents had taken to back up their complaints were seized by officers. These are to be sent away for analysis.

Bulldozers stood still today and there was merely an eerie silence at the construction site. There was police tape across the entrance warning people not to go onto the land.

The development has been controversial since it was given the go-ahead earlier this year. Residents complained there were not enough car parking spaces for eight additional homes.

Residents of Harbour Way are convinced graves have been unearthed at the site and want to see remains treated with respect and moved appropriately.