Farmer ‘shocked’ to find human bones after flooding

Stephen Bartlett made the discovery after flooding

BBC A man wearing a blue coat looking at the camera. He's holding a box open which contains a selection of bones — Stephen Bartlett made the discovery after flooding

A farmer said he was “shocked” when he found suspected human remains from a grave washed up outside his local church.

Stephen Bartlett, 61, said he discovered the bones outside St Mary’s Church in Mudford near Yeovil on 29 January after a weekend of heavy rain and flooding caused by Storm Herminia.

Mr Bartlett, a fourth generation farmer and army veteran, said he instantly identified the bones as human.

Somerset Council said in a statement they would be assessing the damage from the floods and working alongside the community to adapt and build resilience for the future.

Stephen Bartlett A collection of bones laid out on a blanket. — The bones are thought to be human

Mr Bartlett said he suspects the remains may have come from graves in St Mary’s Church, which was waterlogged after the River Yeo burst its banks.

“I normally check after we have some serious flooding and make sure everything is alright,” he said.

“I was walking back along the lane, and I looked down, and I saw what I thought was a human leg bone.”

He said he found more human bones after checking the bank, and gathered them in the church yard.

The farmer said he is concerned this is “going to continue”, claiming the construction of new homes could increase the risk of flooding the church yard.

Dawn Woodward, a flood warden in the village, witnessed the recent flooding and said: “I couldn’t believe how far the waters were encroaching into the graveyard.

“The church is actually a historic Grade I listed building and it’s been the hub of our village for centuries. “

Ms Woodward added while this is not the first time it has happened, the water is getting further into the graveyard with each flood.

The river Yeo floods into the roads in Mudford besides the church

Stephen Bartlett Flood water on a road, and in the background a church. The flood waters appear to reach halfway up a house on the left of the shot. — The river Yeo floods into the roads in Mudford besides the church

In a statement Somerset Council said a team from the Somerset Rivers Authority would be working with the community to understand the possible causes of the flooding and working on solutions together.