A Sussex firm is behind the unearthing of almost 3,000 bodies from church land in London.

Staff from Toop Exhumation Services, based in Burgess Hill, have been working in the crypt of St Andrew Guild Church, Holborn, since November.

The team, headed by Mark Toop, his wife Amanda and father Patrick, have been living almost permanently on the site since the excavation began.

They have discovered more than three times as many bodies as expected below the historic church, designed by Sir Christopher Wren.

This week the team uncovered their most exciting relic yet - a lead coffin, thought to be medieval, which has been moulded to the features of the deceased.

The discovery has excited archaeologists from the University of London who say they have not seen one like it before.

Mr Toop said: "All the clearance work is done by hand and we have now cleared most of the bodies and 2,000 tons of earth."

The workers were blessed before the work began but Mr Toop has no qualms about sleeping on the site.

He said: "I don't worry about the dead, they can't harm you. It's the living you have to worry about."