The island where human remains rise to the surface

People were buried on the island more than 200 years ago

There is a small island in Kent where human graves from more than 200 years ago are being revealed due to natural erosion.

Deadman's Island, opposite Queenborough on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent, was used to check ships going into London to make sure they were not carrying contagious diseases.

Trevor Mason, who runs a social media page dedicated to the island, told Secret Kent: "Unfortunately in many cases sailors were sick, and in some cases they died, so while the boats were moored here those who succumbed to those contagious diseases were buried."

Horror stories have been handed down through generations about the uninhabited mudbank, which is out of bounds to the public.

As well as sailors, the remains are believed to be those of men and boys who died of diseases on board floating prisons, known as prison hulks, which were moored off the Isle of Sheppey.

Mr Mason said: "The sailors who would have been living on board those ships must have been in horrendous conditions - not being able to come off the ship to go [on] land and see their families etc, and the risk of catching a disease from their fellow sailor.

"It must have been horrific."

He said he was told by an archaeologist that there was a chance some of the graves could still contain some contagious diseases.

Rising sea levels and coastal erosion over the years have begun to slowly wash away their final resting place, leaving wooden coffins and skeletal remains sticking out of the mud.