A human leg found on a footpath on Thursday may belong to a young woman and could have been dragged there by an animal.

The grisly discovery was made by two dog walkers on a pathway just yards away from a primary school in New Waltham, near Grimsby in Lincolnshire on Thursday.

Residents nearby have claimed that the foot and lower leg may have been carried to the footpath along and old railway line by an animal and fear more body parts could be discovered.

The human leg and foot discovered by dog walkers in Lincolnshire may have belonged to a young woman and could have been dragged there by an animal (pictured: Investigators on the footpath in New Waltham, Lincolnshire)

According to the Sun, one neighbour was told the foot was a size 4 and suspects that an animal may have dragged part of the body off

According to the Sun, one neighbour was told the human foot was a size 4.

He added: '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.

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

Police have said that the area will remain cordoned off for the next few days while they investigate.

Detective Inspector Rhodri Troake said: 'The body part has now been recovered and has been forensically examined.

'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.

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

Police have appealed for people to avoid the area and a route linking the path to the school has been closed

Officers have said the area will remained cordoned off for the next few days while investigations continue

'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.'

Humberside Police are urging anyone with information about this incident to contact them.

Passers by were shocked to find the scene on Thursday.

A resident of nearby St Clements Way in New Waltham said: 'I was out at 7.30am and the police were here and they have been stopping everyone from going down the path.

'The crime scene officer got here at around 8am, and it sounds like something serious has happened.

'It is the main path that most of the schoolchildren use in the morning and you can normally hear them, but not this morning.

'The path is used by everyone in the village although it can be a bit dodgy after dark.'

A resident of Knightsbridge, who lives just yards from the scene, said: 'I was awoken this morning just after 6am by these two women chatting very loudly.

'About an hour later they came back, and were just as loud so I put my head out the window to shout at them to give me some peace, and I noticed they were with the police.

'All of a sudden there were police everywhere - I have never seen so many.'