Last week the Reporter exclusively told how the team from Northern Archaeological Associates had found the first evidence of a Bronze Age settlement in Dewsbury.

Pictured is a collared urn, found at the site, which has been identified as being from the neolithic period (2000BC-1500BC) and between 4,000 and 3,500 years old.

The urn is associated with cremation and a pot from the same period containing what is thought to be human ashes has also been uncovered.

It is thought the site at the water treatment works on Headland Lane could have been a burial ground, called a barrow.

Post-excavation manager Gail Hama said the items uncovered could provide information on the people who lived in the area at that time.

She said: "If we get the cremation examined, which we will, we will be able to tell the age and sex of the people buried.

"In terms of finds there will be some Roman pottery and some pre-historic pottery to be looked at – probably Bronze Age or neolithic."

Northern Archaeological Associates were brought onto the site to record items of archaeological significance before it is used as a storage area for topsoil for Yorkshire Water's £26m upgrade of the Mitchell Laithes water treatment site.

Yorkshire Water said its upgrade scheme would not be affected by the dig which does not affect the constructions area.