Avon and Somerset Police held back parts of 77 bodies

Body parts of 77 people were retained by Avon & Somerset Police during investigations spanning 25 years.

Many families were not informed originally because the retentions were before 2006 when the Human Tissue Act came into force.

Last month, an audit by the Association of Chief Police Officers found almost 500 parts had been kept nationally. Avon and Somerset Police reported two.

The total figure of 77 has now been obtained by the BBC. The Western Daily Press reported last year that the force was looking at 110 cases.

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Yesterday the force said it had been proactive on the investigation and in line with criteria: “We submitted the number of tissue samples held on our completion date. That number is two.”

The body parts were retained legally and legitimately.