Human remains not found at site of 'Brighton's ugliest building'

Forensic teams began digging at Anston House, Preston Road, on Monday to investigate claims a human skeleton was at the site.

Police said a member of the public came forward claiming the bones were present at Anston House in Preston Road when it was built in the 1960s.

Anston House, Preston Road, Brighton

However, the force confirmed it finished the dig and no human remains or evidence of suspicious activity had been found.

DS Joanne Benton said: "We carried out a thorough and robust investigation into this matter and have found no human remains at the site.

“As such, our officers have been stood down from the scene.

Anston House, Preston Road, Brighton

"The person who reported this to us did so with good intentions and I would like to thank the public for their patience while we carried out this work."

Work started in March to finally demolish the block, which had been abandoned for more than 30 years.

Residents dubbed the building Brighton's ugliest due to the amount of waste dumped in its forecourt and its graffiti covered walls.

Pictures from the scene on Monday showed forensic investigators using a digger to unearth the foundations of the building.

Anston House, Preston Road, Brighton

First Base and Hyde Housing Group are redeveloping the site into 229 new homes across three tower blocks.

Of the new flats, 30 will be classed as affordable one-bedroom and two-bedroom homes, and there will also be a communal work space on the ground floor, and landscaped areas with new trees.

Brighton architects Conran and Partners, who have designed the new blocks of flats, said the development "will provide much needed new, contemporary homes and work space within the city".