By Jack Fifield SWNS

A FARMER was left “spooked” after he stumbled across suspected human bones outside a churchyard which had been flooded.

Stephen Bartlett, 61, was walking past his local church in the pretty Somerset village of Mudford when he spotted the remains on the road.

The retired soldier claims he “instantly recognised” the bones as human after he made the grim discovery in January 29.

Stephen says he was concerned the bones could be swept away in another downpour so carefully gathered them up and took them home.

He said: “There had been a weekend of heavy flooding so I went out to have a look to see if there was any damage anywhere.

Somerset farmer Stephen Bartlett. Release date February 10 2025. A local farmer was ÔspookedÕ after coming across suspected human remains following flooding at a graveyard. Stephen Bartlett, 61, was walking around on Wednesday, January 29, after a weekend of heavy flooding when he spotted bones outside his local church. He said: ÒI was walking along and I saw what looked like a legbone sticking out, then when I looked down on the ground, actually on the road, I found an ulna, an arm bone, and a collarbone. ÒI couldnÕt leave them there on the road sticking out, because they could end up being washed away in the next flood.Ó The former soldier, who served in the Balkans, said he knew exactly what he was looking at when he came across the remains outside St MaryÕs Church in his hometown of Mudford, Somerset. Stephen says he thinks the bones could belong to multiple people. He has now reported the findings to police.
Somerset farmer Stephen Bartlett - A local farmer was "spooked" after coming across suspected human remains following flooding at a graveyard. (Stephen Bartlett)

“I was walking along and I saw what looked like a legbone sticking out, then when I looked down on the road I found an ulna [forearm], an arm bone, and a collarbone.

“I couldn’t leave them there on the road sticking out, because they could end up being washed away in the next flood.”

Stephen suspects the bones may have come from multiple graves in St Mary’s Church in the village which was waterlogged after the River Yeo burst its banks.

Bones which were discovered outside St MaryÕs Church in Mudford, Somerset, following flooding. Release date February 10 2025. A local farmer was ÔspookedÕ after coming across suspected human remains following flooding at a graveyard. Stephen Bartlett, 61, was walking around on Wednesday, January 29, after a weekend of heavy flooding when he spotted bones outside his local church. He said: ÒI was walking along and I saw what looked like a legbone sticking out, then when I looked down on the ground, actually on the road, I found an ulna, an arm bone, and a collarbone. ÒI couldnÕt leave them there on the road sticking out, because they could end up being washed away in the next flood.Ó The former soldier, who served in the Balkans, said he knew exactly what he was looking at when he came across the remains outside St MaryÕs Church in his hometown of Mudford, Somerset. Stephen says he thinks the bones could belong to multiple people. He has now reported the findings to police.
Bones which were discovered outside St Mary's Church in Mudford, Somerset, following flooding. (Stephen Bartlett / SWNS)

He added: “I said ‘Christ alive’. I was fearful of walking a bit further along and seeing an actual skull looking out of the soil, I was really spooked.

“Because it’s a well used road right next to the church, I didn’t see anyone else picking them up and taking them away.

“At first I hid them behind a gravestone in the churchyard, but the police said ‘keep them all together and keep them secure’.”

The graveyard is also home to a Commonwealth War Grave, for Ordinary Seaman W J Pearce, who died on July 19, 1918.

Stephen said the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is now also launching an investigation.

Parishioners are said to be “totally shocked” by the discovery of bones floating outside the church.

Stephen said: “They said ‘are you sure they’re not dog bones?’

“No, they are human. I know, I was in the army, I was in the Balkans, so I know exactly what I’m looking at.

“The older generation are really upset because some of them know people who are buried in the churchyard.

“They’ve noticed the flooding is getting worse and it’s getting longer.”

SWNS has said it has approached police and the War Graves Commission for a comment.