Suspected human remains found for fourth time

The remains were found on the Fish Quay, in Sunderland

Suspected human remains have been found by the edge of a river.

The remains were discovered on the Fish Quay, in Sunderland, on Friday, Northumbria Police confirmed.

It is the fourth time in two months that suspected human remains have been found in the area around Sunderland.

A spokesperson for the force said officers are "treating the discoveries as unexplained".

They said: "Shortly before 12:00 BST on Friday we received a report of suspected human remains having been discovered on the Fish Quay, behind Low Street in Sunderland.

"Enquiries are ongoing."

The first instance of suspected human remains being found was in February on Roker Beach.

On 12 March, officers were called to the same stretch of beach after bones were found in the sand.

The third discovery of suspected human remains was made on Seaburn Beach on 29 March.

Northumbria Police confirmed that some of the remains found were human. The force did not confirm which specific discoveries were human.

The force said it was keeping an opening mind about whether the discoveries are linked.