Human bones discovered in a garden were jaw fragments dating back at least 50 years, it has emerged.

Police were informed after a homeowner made the grim discovery in Kingsnorth Road, Twydall, a week ago.

An investigation has been taking place, with officers searching the property late into the following evening.

It is not known at this stage how long the bones had been buried at the property, but police say they are adult bone fragments from a human jaw.

They are believed to date back at least 50 years. Officers are treating the matter as unexplained.

The bones were found on April 7.

Police, including forensic teams were at the property until late the next evening, and could be seen searching the garden further.

However, despite the search, detectives say no further bone fragments were found at the property.

One pensioner, who lives near the home but didn’t want to be named, was told by a detective a jawbone had been found.

The elderly woman said: “The police interviewed me and asked me if I had ever discovered any bones in my garden. I haven’t of course.

“He told me a jawbone had been found while a neighbour was gardening.”

The neighbour has only lived there for a short time.

The pensioner added: “I have lived here since 1960 and knew the people who lived there before. It was an elderly woman and her two sons.

“She died a couple of years back, she had dementia. Her eldest son had died before she did but her other son had moved to Rainham.

“I think there was another family that lived there before them, but I can’t really remember who that was and no one else has lived there.”

Another neighbour said she had heard a rumour the bones were children’s.

She said most officers had left the scene by 9pm on Saturday but one police car was parked up in the street until later.

DCI David Chewter, who is leading the investigation, said: “There is nothing at this stage to suggest there are suspicious circumstances around this discovery, however, we are carrying out inquiries to establish the circumstances of how this piece of bone ended up in this garden.

“A thorough search of the garden has been made and no other pieces of bone have been found.”