Two bin bags containing human bones that were found in a river in Suffolk may have been dumped just hours before they were found.
The bags were found in the River Stour between Meadow Gates and Croft Bridge in Sudbury on Thursday and are thought to have been brought to the area in a shopping trolley.
Police have confirmed the bones were human remains and said 'due to the suspicious circumstances in which they were found detectives are treating this as a murder investigation'.
Now residents have said they believe the bags were not in the water very long as the river is usually well-looked after and rubbish is removed.
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One resident told the Sun: "I walked past the spot where the bags were found at about 1pm on Thursday and saw nothing suspicious or odd.
"There were just three girls aged about 13 messing about in a boat. It was an innocent scene, but it is rather chilling to think of it now.
"The river is very well kept and anything that is thrown in is quickly pulled out. That's why I think the bags could not have been in there for very long."
In a statement Suffolk Police said: "A murder inquiry has been launched following the discovery of bags containing bones in a river in Sudbury.
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"The bones have now been confirmed to be human remains and due to the suspicious circumstances in which they were found, detectives are treating this as a murder investigation.
"A sensitive and methodical process will now take place over the coming days as the bones are examined and forensic tests are conducted. Various other investigative work and searches will also be carried-out, which will need to utilise a number of specialist resources.
"A Home Office post-mortem examination is due to take place on Saturday which will hopefully assist in moving the inquiry forward, but again the results from this may not be immediately available. "
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Police are urging anyone with any information to come forward.
Inspector Kevin Horton, the Local Policing Commander for Sudbury, said: "We would ask anyone with information about this discovery to make contact with the Major Investigation Team immediately.
"This includes anyone who believes they saw the bags in the river prior to Thursday afternoon, or saw the shopping trolley either in this location or elsewhere along the river."
Featured Image Credit: East News Press Agency