A CIRENCESTER resident had a fright this week when human remains were found in her back garden.

Standard receptionist Lana Beech had called in builders Terry and Brian Pitt to dig a trench at her property in Gloucester Street when they uncovered a human skull.

Terry said: "We do dig up animal skulls but when it's rounded like that you know it's not an animal one. We have dug up skulls before in churchyards but this is the first time we have found one in a back garden."

Lana and her husband Jonathan told the police about the discovery shortly after 11.30am on Monday.

After a quick site visit to determine the state of the remains the police decided to call in an archaeologist from the nearby Corinuim Museum to investigate further.

Paula Gentil confirmed the skull was human and belonged to a male who had lived some time ago.

She said the exact age of the remains would not be known without carbon dating.

Paula explained the Gloucester Road property was situated outside the old town walls and experts believe it may have been the site of an ancient cemetery.

"We know a lot about the Bath Gate which is fourth century," she said. "We assumed there was a cemetery outside the Gloucester Gate so that would be my assumption. But there are no proper excavations because it is all built up."

Paula went on to say the skull had most likely been disturbed at an earlier time because there was no sign of any other parts of the skeleton.

Lana admitted the discovery had been a bit of a shock to her but she was quick to praise Terry and Brian for spotting the skull in the trench.

She said: "I suppose you should expect things in a town like Cirencester but it's still a bit of a surprise.

"It was very keen-eyed of them to see it. If they were using a mechanical digger they might not have seen it."

Jonathan, an antique clock restorer who works at the Brewery Arts Centre, said the discovery was not as grisly as it sounded.

He explained: "It does make it interesting when something unusual happens. It's not something you expect to find."

Although there are no indications of further bones on the site, an archaeologist will supervise the rest of the digging.

The skull will now be re-buried where it was found although a record of its' whereabouts will be made by the Corinium Museum.