'Avoid speculating' after 'human' remains found in Darwen

Councillor Matt Jackson (Labour, Darwen South) said the remains clearly "belong to a person", and there is a "family out there missing a loved one".

He urged people not to jump to conclusions about who the remains belong to. 

Police have also confirmed today (Friday, February 9) there are no further updates they can provide to the public following the find, at an industrial estate in Darwen on Wednesday.

Detectives and forensics officers set up tents at the back of a row of industrial units in Marsh House Lane, where it is believed 'human' remains were found on land on Wednesday (February 7).

A police cordon was put in place and remains so officers can continue their investigations.

Many of the units within the industrial estate are still open for business.

READ MORE: 'Human' remains found at industrial estate in Darwen

Police have said while they are still in the "very early stages of an investigation" they can confirm "remains have been found".

Police at the scene where suspected human remains have been found in Darwen (Image: NQ Staff)

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said on Thursday: "We were called to Marsh House Lane Industrial Estate, Darwen, at 12.26pm on Wednesday, February 7, to reports remains had been found on land at the site.

"We are at the very early stages of an investigation and work is ongoing to establish the origin of the remains."

Following the news, people took to social media to comment, but Cllr Matt Jackson is asking residents not to speculate on who the remains may belong to.

He said on Friday: “I went down to the site this morning and spoke to some of the officers.

“They are still undertaking some preliminary searches but couldn’t update me further at this time.

“What they did tell me though was that everyone at the site, the unit holders, had been very accommodating and had offered them the use of their facilities and refreshments, especially during this cold and awful weather.

“So, the police and I would like to thank those local businesses for their help in this difficult situation.

“I just want to make clear that those remains obviously belong to a person, there’s a family out there who are missing a loved one, so please could people be mindful of what they are writing on social media, and please do not speculate about who the remains could belong to.

“Someone somewhere has a missing family member and if it turns out not to be the person they think it is, it could be devastating for them to get their hopes up at this stage.

“Let’s all just wait for an official update from the police on this.”

A scene where suspected human remains have been found in Darwen (Image: NQ Staff)

One person on Facebook said: “So sorry for whoever’s family is about to get some really sad news.”

While another commented: “My thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased.”

On Wednesday, a site worker confirmed to the Lancashire Telegraph that he and a colleague uncovered the remains on Wednesday morning.

The worker, who did not wish to be named, said: “We were just clearing up and tidying up some rubbish at the back of the units, it was around 11am.

“I had a wheelbarrow and my colleague was digging and he said, ‘can you come and help me’, and he dug down and uncovered a skeleton.

“It was just the head and the torso, just covered over with some soil.

“We were shocked. We called the police straight away and they got here really quickly.

”We’ve no idea how long the remains have been there for. It was just such a shock for us.”

Police would continue to urge people living in the area not to speculate about the remains at this time until further information becomes available.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 101, quoting log 558 of February 7.