TWENTY-five separate human remains have now been exhumed from the multi-million pound Darwen Academy construction site.

Archaeologists and a Lancashire County Council analyst found the bodies in shallow graves around four feet deep.

They discovered each grave contained several coffins stacked together in the area off Redearth Road.

Archaeologists are holding the remains, which are in the advance stage of decomposition, in Lancaster laboratory where tests will be carried out to establish historical and cultural backgrounds of the bodies.

When this is completed Blackburn with Darwen Council will hold a burial service but bosses have said it was too early to say where that will be .

Marsh House councillor Simon Huggill has said they should be laid to rest in Lower Chapel church cemetery.

The Liberal Democrat representative said the Methodist Church in Redearth had historical links to the church in Lower Chapel and has contacted the council with his suggestion.

But he believes the most likely place will be Darwen Cemetery.

Colin Rigby, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: "As part of the council's work with the Academy Trust, we have carried out these investigations as a precaution.

"We knew exhumations had been carried out after a flood in 1966, but were concerned that some shallow graves might still remain.

"We are extremely glad that we have taken this step and we are now following national procedures set down by English Heritage to ensure all work is carried out in an ethical and dignified manner.

"In line with the Burial Act 1857 we have screened the site from public view.

"Exhumed remains are being placed in special preservation grade bags and boxes used by the archaeology team and transported to their laboratory in Lancaster on a daily basis, where they will be kept under strict codes of practice.

"Archaeologists will carry out tests to try to establish ages, typical diet, social background and the cause of deaths of the people who were buried there.

"Scraps of clothing, including buttons and fabric, have also been found on the site and these will also be analysed to help build a picture of life at the time the site was used as a burial ground.

"The information gathered will be put into a report on the history and archaeology for the whole site.

"Once the work is complete, the remains will be re-interred and blessed according to Methodist funeral rights."

The £49million academy is set to open at Darwen Moorland High School in September and relocate to the new purpose-built premises on completion of the building work in 2010.