26 August 2011 Last updated at 12:31 ET

Delayed Kempsey flood scheme under way

The skeletons were found near a church in Kempsey

Work has started on a delayed flood defence scheme in Worcestershire after the removal of 40 medieval skeletons found on the site.

The remains were discovered in July when work began to build a 180m (588 ft) long earth embankment in Kempsey.

The town has been flooded 23 times in the past 30 years and a sod-cutting ceremony on Friday marked the beginning of the £1.5m project.

It is hoped the bones will be reburied in the village.

The bones are to be examined by specialists and samples radio-carbon dated to confirm their age, the Environment Agency has said.

More than 150 houses and businesses were affected in the flash floods of July 2007.