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Part of a human leg found on a public footpath may belong to a young woman - and there are fears more body parts could be found.

It is believed the foot and lower leg may have been carried to the path, just yards from a school, by an animal.

Dog walkers raised the alarm when they made the grisly discovery in New Waltham, Lincolnshire, on Thursday morning

There are fears that more body parts may be nearby as Humberside Police widen their search area to include two large fields bordering the path and a stream, GrimsbyLive reports.

(Image: Jon Corken/Grimsby Live)

It is understood the foot and lower leg, which were found along an old railway line, are that of a female.

One of the dog walkers told neighbours the foot was a "size four" and said it was attached to the lower part of a leg.

The traumatised woman told residents she believes the body part belongs to a young woman.

A police cordon has surrounded the scene since Thursday as police try to unravel the mystery.

(Image: Jon Corken/Grimsby Live)

The parish council's chairman warned locals that a body or more body parts could be somewhere in the village, telling residents to be village and know where their children are at all times.

A man who lives near the scene said of one of the dog walkers: "She is still traumatised by what she found. It looked like a small foot around a size four and was a woman's foot.

The man said the body part may have been taken to the path by an animal.

He added: "We can only guess. But it could be there is, sadly, a body in nearby woods or in the fields around here and an animal has taken part of it away.

(Image: Jon Corken/Grimsby Live)

"That is why the search has been all around in the fields and hedgerows and verges."

The body part was found close to a playing field at New Waltham Academy.

Detective Inspector Rhodri Troake said: “The body part has now been recovered and has been forensically examined, and while we are still in the very early stages of the investigation, we can confirm it is human and is a small section of a lower leg and foot.

“Further detailed forensic examinations and analysis will now be conducted to ascertain the identity of the individual and to establish the exact circumstances.

“Numerous enquiries are being carried out as part of the investigation to determine what events may have occurred prior to this incident, how the body part came to be on the path and also the length of time it may have been in situ in the area.

(Image: Jon Corken/Grimsby Live)

"Additional information will be made available as and when we are in a position to provide more details.

“A scene and police cordon will remain in place over the few next days as detectives and forensic experts continue enquiries and we would ask people to please allow officers space and time to be able to progress the investigation.”

Chairman of New Waltham Parish Council, Grahame Williams, said: "No matter where you live, a gruesome discovery like this would be quite shocking.

"What is perturbing is the possibility there are other body parts in the village.

"It is important parents know where their children are at all times and to be vigilant.

(Image: Grimsby Live)

"If anyone becomes suspicious about anything they should get in touch with Humberside Police immediately."

A dog walker said he took his three dogs along the path at 7.30pm on Wednesday night and he didn't see the limb.

He said: "If it had been around the footpath when we were there, I'm sure my dogs would have found it. So I don't think it was there the previous evening."

The path is used by local schoolchildren.

A mum said parents are so concerned by the discovery that more are accompanying their children on their walks to and from school.

She said: "One of the school kids was off school ill because he had been up all night because of the worry.

"Even I was worried when I went out to my wheelie bin at night in case I found something gruesome."

Police have searched two large fields next to the path, and an underwater search team has scoured Buck Beck, a local stream.

The search is expected to resume on Saturday.