POLICE were called after a retired doctor attempted to dump human bones in a council waste site.

Officers said the pensioner, from Simonstone, said the collection had been in his possession since he was a trainee doctor.

The bones were seized after eagle-eyed staff at the household waste recycling centre in Park Road, Padiham, spotted what was happening early on Tuesday.

Two skips were cordoned off by police for two hours while searches were carried out.

The doctor was spoken to by police who said they were satisfied no offence had been committed and there were no suspicious circumstances.

A police spokesman said: “It is not something that you come across every day.”

A staff member at the waste centre said: “The doctor came and intended to dispose of the bones so we called the police straight away.

“We were told to shut down two separate skip areas for the police to investigate the location.

“The police informed us that everything was legitimate after the skips were closed from 11.30am and 1.30pm.

“This was a first for us as far as I know.”

The bones will now be handed over to mortuary officials to be disposed of correctly.