SKELETONS dating back to the middle ages have been uncovered during works on new flood defences in a Worcester village.

Archaeologists suspected they would discover some remains in the field along the route of what will be the new Kempsey flood barrier, which runs through what was once part of the village’s churchyard. Digging a 30m-long investigation trench revealed 12 graves and exposed eight sets of skeletal remains, and it is possible more will be discovered.

The Environment Agency, which is carrying out the building work, has now sent the remains off for radio carbon dating.

The bones will be rem-oved, taken to a laboratory for examination and then reburied at a later date elsewhere in Kempsey.

The shallowest burials were found just over 1ft (30cm) below the ground, and will need to be excavated. Any remains which are buried deeper will stay in place and will not be disturbed by the flood barrier work.

Ed Wilson, the Environ-ment Agency’s senior archaeologist, said: “This work has provided a chance to reveal more of the story of Kempsey and its population.

“The results of this work will be made available to the public as soon as the delicate excavation and analysis have been completed.”

The excavation will not delay the flood barrier building work.

The village was hit hard in the floods of 2007 when a tenth of the homes were inundated and the village was cut off for more than a day.