A Merseyside high school held a funeral for their resident lab skeleton after discovering its bones were real.
The skeleton, named 'Arthur,' had been at Haydock High School for half a century, beginning his career in the science lab before getting moved to the art department.
But in 2015, teachers and pupils paid tribute to the lost member of their school after stunned staff realised his bones were real.
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The ECHO previously reported how Arthur, who was missing both arms and a leg, was put into storage after being replaced by a new plastic skeleton, but was found in a cupboard earlier that year.
At the time, art technician Sandra Dixon, who discovered the skeleton, said he looked "rather worse for wear" with "yellowing honeycomb bones."
The school laid on a funeral for Arthur after discovering that they could not dispose of the skeleton legally without a proper burial.
Pupils and teachers followed the hearse to Greenacre Woodland Burials for the ceremony and four year nine pupils lowered the wicker coffin into the ground while roses were tossed in and tributes paid.
Tests determined that the remains belonged to an small Asian man aged between 25 and 30 with a curvature of the spine.
It is thought that Arthur was brought over in the skeleton trade from India to England decades ago.
In 2016, Sandra Morris, a youth pastor at Christ Church United Reformed Church, said: "We wanted to respect his life. We wanted to try to bring an element of Christianity to it but we realise he was probably Hindu and gave note to that.
"We wanted to recognise that, in both religions, the soul moves on and the body is an empty vessel although his spirit will have left a long time ago."
The service, hearse and coffin was given free of charge by the funeral company, organised by Bill Craddock, senior funeral director of Haydock Funeral Services.
Mrs Dixon previously said: "We learnt a lot from the skeleton, drawing his anatomy, then when I found him looking a state, we needed to do something about him.
"The children are just elated to have the service because he has been part of us for so long.
"It gives him the send off he deserves for all his years of service."
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At the time, Headteacher Ian Murphy said: "We are delighted that the skeleton which has resided within the school for so many years is finally being laid to rest in such a respectful manner.
"Our thanks must go to funeral director Bill Craddock and Greenacres Woodland Burials who have donated their services in order to give the skeleton a dignified burial. It is wonderful to see the community working together with the school to bring the remarkable story to a fitting end."
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