The cavers alerted police after the skull was found. Photo: Steve Snodgrass CC-BY-SA-2.0

A rescue team was called to help police after a gruesome discovery by cavers in Lancashire.

The cavers found a human skull while underground at Dunald Mill Hole near Carnforth and reported the discovery to police.

The Clapham-based Cave Rescue Organisation was called out on Friday to retrieve the remains as part of Lancashire Constabulary’s investigations.

A CRO said the remains discovered by the cavers were an ‘ancient human skull’.

A small team went to the site at Nether Kellet and handed over the skull to police after bringing it to the surface.