Humberside Police said specialists and National Crime Agency advisers were investigating and hoping to establish "if what has been respectfully recovered are in fact human ashes".

More than 1,500 calls have now been received to a phoneline for people who used Legacy Independent Funeral Directors.

Two people - a man aged 46 and a woman aged 23 - were arrested on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.

They have since been released on bail while the investigation continues.

Families have spoken about their anguish at not knowing what happened to their loved ones and fears over whether they have the right ashes.

The 35 bodies were recovered last Friday and Saturday, before being moved to a Hull mortuary for identification.

Three branches of the business were raided - two in Hull and one in nearby Beverley - after concerns about "storage and management processes relating to care of the deceased".

Police have called an "intricate" and "truly horrific incident".

Legacy is a family-run business established in 2010, according to its website. It has yet to comment publicly.

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