A murder inquiry has been launched after a human skeleton wrapped in carpet was discovered during city centre redevelopment work.

The skull and bones were spotted by workmen at a car park opposite the CIS Tower on Miller Street.

Select the link below the picture on the right for images of the clothes found with the remains

The gruesome find was originally treated as non-suspicious but a post-mortem has concluded the woman had suffered a fractured jaw, collarbone and neck.

Police believe the bones belong to a white female aged between 16 and 30.

A blue jumper and blue bra were recovered among the remains. A distinctive green pinafore with an unusual embroidered pattern and large buttons was also found nearby.

It is thought the remains could have been there for between 12 months and 50 years. They were covered by a blue carpet and found in a one-metre gap between the wall of a building and a fence erected in 1960.

Detectives are now combing missing person files in an attempt to identify the skeleton. The M.E.N. understands 10 missing women from Greater Manchester fit the profile.

The bones have been sent for DNA testing and dental records are being checked.

Foul play

Detective Chief Inspector Jeff McMahon, of the Major Incident Team, said: “This is now being treated as a murder investigation. The positioning of the body and the nature of the injuries points to foul play.

“We have a team of trained detectives trying to establish who she is and what has happened to her.

“If you have any knowledge about the items of clothing we have recovered I would urge you to get in touch.

“Until we are able to establish further facts it would be inappropriate to speculate on how long this woman has been dead or how exactly she died.

“Any information that can help us can be treated in strict confidence.”

Last month we reported how the remains were unearthed by a digger working at the site of the Co-operative Group's new £100m headquarters – on land between Angel Street, Dantzic Street and Miller Street.

The area is known as Angel Meadows, which was a notorious Manchester slum in the mid-19th century.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Major Incident Team on 0161 856 5448 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.