A human skull has been discovered in the back garden of a house in South Dublin.

Gardaí say the remains may date from the mid 1940's.

The remains were found in the Killakee area near Firhouse, by a man working in his garden.

Early indications are that the skull was that of an adult aged between 18 and 40.

It may have been in the ground for up to 70 years.

The scene has now been sealed off for technical examination.

The Office of the State Pathologist and a forensic anthropologist have been informed and are assisting Gardaí.

The skull will now undergo forensic and DNA analysis.