Human bones found under a former fish shop in Wivenhoe are to be reburied shortly.

The bones of man were found by builders working at the old Green's off West Street.

The remains were found by men digging new foundations for the single story building which used to be the second Congregational chapel off West Street.

Congregational minister the Rev Angela Robinson said a small burial ground was attached to the site and the current site in High Street is the fourth since the congregationalists came to Wivenhoe in 1672.

Mrs Robinson, who lives next door to the current site, said builders followed the procedures "absolutely correctly".

"There is a terrific amount of bureaucracy involved for a builder," she said.

"They are adapting what used to be the second chapel built in 1700s and adapted after 1834 for the chapel's school in West Street. It is a very historic building where up to 130 boys were educated for a penny a day."

Mrs Robinson said the bones would be interred on Friday at Wivenhoe cemetery and attempts were being made to discover their identity

The site was cleared when it was acquired by Ken Green in the early 1960s. The remains were probably overlooked at the time. Mr Green is currently away on holiday.

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