This was the bizarre sight that greeted commuters getting the bus in Tameside this morning.

A coffin has been left on a bench at the stop on Stamford Street in Mossley.

No one appears to know exactly when or how it appeared.

Pictures of the coffin began to appear on social media early this morning as people going to work spotted it and were left unnerved.

When the M.E.N. went to investigate, a woman from a nearby medical centre bravely opened it.

Fortunately, it’s empty.

But locals were left bemused.

Bobby Wood, 26, arrived to get the bus to his job as a forklift truck driver. Sitting as far away as possible, he said: “I was in shock (when I saw it).

(Image: Staff)

“It’s not every day you see a coffin at a bus stop.

“There was a woman sat there and she moved away when she realised what it was.

“It’s a bit freaky - I didn’t want to go near it.

“It must be some sort of joke.”

The M.E.N. contacted a nearby funeral director and a member of staff came to examine the coffin herself.

“It’s definitely not real, you couldn’t use it,” the staff member said.

“I would go along with it being a prop that’s been dumped.”

The M.E.N. has contacted Tameside council to see if bosses can offer any further explanation.