Human remains which could be about 4,000 years old have been unearthed by archaeologists working in a Cumbrian village.

A team of archaeologists found the body curled up in the foetal position in a cavity in the limestone bedrock on a building site opposite the church in Levens, near Kendal.

The remains have been removed after the Home Office issued a burial licence.

Jamie Quartermaine, from Oxford Archaeology North, said the manner of the burial suggested the remains probably dated back to pre-Roman times.

'Most exciting'

Mr Quartermaine, who is project manager in charge of the survey at the site where two four-bedroom houses will be built, said: "All we can say for certain at this stage is that it is at least 100 years old.

"We know this because there was a 100-year-old tree on top of it."

Local historian Roger Bingham said: "It is one of the most exciting discoveries we have had for a long time, possibly since Bronze Age urns were found in Allithwaite.

"This is an archaeological discovery of the first importance.

"It also underlines the importance of asking for archaeological research before there is development."