Human hand found by dog on Isle of Wight beach in Freshwater Bay

Part of a human arm has been found by a dog after washing up on a beach on the Isle of Wight.

The remains were discovered at Freshwater Bay and were given in by a member of the public on Wednesday morning (28 December).

Initial analysis confirmed it is a human hand which had been in the water for a significant amount of time, Hampshire Constabulary said.

It has been sent away for further analysis but it is not known if any identification can be made given the deterioration of the flesh.

A man claiming to be the nephew of the individual who discovered the forearm posted a picture on Facebook of the remains (warning: graphic content), showing decomposed flesh hanging off bones.

He wrote: "So my uncle took the dog for a walk down the beach today, and my dog has found a human hand/forearm."

It is not yet known how the remains came to be washed up on the beach, but a number of sea burials take place near The Needles, off the coast of the Isle of Wight, every year.

A Hampshire police spokesman said: "A member of the public handed in human remains at the Boat House at Freshwater Bay this morning. We were called at 11.02am.

"Initial analysis confirms that this is a human hand and has been in the water for a significant amount of time. It has been sent away for further analysis."