A major investigation is underway after a human skull was discovered on the beach at Westcliff.

Pathologists from Southend Hospital were conducting forensic tests in a bid to uncover how the person died and how old the skull is. They will then be faced with the painstaking task of trying to identify it.

The skull was found on the sand by an elderly couple walking along the beach by the Crow Stone in Westcliff on Wednesday at around 1pm.

They picked it up and took it to the Southend Council-operated pier and foreshore office along Southend seafront.

Officers there took possession of it and handed it in to the police. It was then transferred to Southend mortuary where an examination was taking place yesterday (Thursday).

It is not known if the skull was washed up by the tide, buried in the sand or dumped.

Police said it was too early for officers to say whether or not it could lead to a murder investigation.

Insp Howard Laverack, of Southend police said: "We can't say if it will result in a murder investigation until we get the test results back. The skull may turn out to be very old, but has been preserved by the effect of sea water."

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