A MOTHER and her children were shocked to discover some gruesome animal remains while they were out walking.

The mother was out with her three children close to Berechurch Road in Colchester.

The family, including children aged two, nine and 11, were heading down a gravel footpath when the mother heard her son scream.

He had seen something in the grass and on closer inspection, it seemed to be the spine and skeletal face of an animal.

The mum, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It was actually my 11-year-old who spotted it.

“He was walking a bit ahead and screamed.

“Obviously I went over and saw why.”

The remains, found on land near the Corporal Budd VC Gym, seem to either be from a fox or a dog.

The mum added: “It was on Tuesday afternoon around 3.30pm.

“We were walking from Monkwick and were using the gravel path to get to the Army estate.”

The Ministry of Defence said if the family was able to come across the remains without needing permission to access the site, they were most likely left there by a member of the public meaning the military was not involved.

Sam McCarthy, Lib Dem candidate for Shrub End Ward, reported the find to the Ministry of Defence.

He said: “We will continue to look into who is responsible for the removal of the carcass as it cannot stay there, especially as young people play on those fields.”

Sam McCarthy will be standing against Conservative Vic Flores, Green Party candidate Blake Roberts, and Labour candidate Rosalind Scott in the council elections on May 2.