Crayford: A series of early Christian burials has been discovered during building work in Crayford.

The skeletons, buried facing west to east, were found when a drainage channel was being dug at St Paulinus Church in Manor Road.

The pre-Norman church is having an extension built and the drainage channel was being excavated to connect the new toilets to the main sewerage system.

Because the site is an archaeological priority area, freelance archaeologist Anthony Thomas was hired to monitor the site for anything of interest.

The skeletons are now being carefully uncovered and there may still be more waiting to be found when the rest of the drainage channel is dug.

Mr Thomas has also found evidence of medieval structures and some pottery.

“We uncovered a green glaze tile and some green glaze pottery which date from the medieval period and also shards of Saxon black burnished pottery,” he said.

“But there has been no evidence so far of anything Roman.”

As yet, it has not been possible to date the skeletons precisely. This can only be done when bones are sent to an expert for analysis. The skeletons may then have to be reburied.

When the archaeological exploration of the site is complete, Mr Thomas hopes to make the finds and details of the excavations public.

Rector Antony Lane said he was excited by the discoveries but added that the skeletons made the site a sensitive one.