A GRISLY discovery awaited plumbers called out to make repairs in the cellar of a council building.

Celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of Middlesbrough's coming of age were only a few hours old when workers found a pile of bones in the parks' department cellar.

The building was originally used as a stable and coach block, in Stewart Park. It was built by Middlesbrough's first mayor, ironmaster Henry Bolckow, to service his hall and estate.

Fearing the worst, the plumbers called the police. But evidence of something more sinister was ruled out when a vet identified the remains as bones of basset hounds and dachsunds, which Mr Bolckow used as hunting dogs.

Parks manager Jim Moody said: "Obviously all the staff here were fascinated by this find. There was a lot of activity with police officers and forensic specialists.

"We were all relieved to hear that they were not human remains.''

Geoff Dorrell, chairman of the Stewart Park and Marton Heritage Group, said: "This is an interesting find and it just goes to show that there is a lot of heritage value in Stewart Park.''

The plumbers also found cow bones, several milk bottles, boots and a gas mask.