An 800-year wait to bury the bodies of suspected victims of religious persecution ended today in a ceremony at Earlham Cemetery.

The 17 bodies, believed to be those of Jews who were killed and dumped in Norwich well, were laid to rest, closing a dark chapter in the city's history.

Workers found the remains in 2004 while preparing for the building of Chapelfield Shopping Centre.

At the time it was thought they may have been plague victims.

The bones were dated from 1150 to 1300 and in 2011 a BBC2 programme suggested the bones belonged to members of the Jewish community.

Clive Roffe, Norwich representative on the Board of Deputies of British Jews, who led the campaign to bury the remains, said: 'This is an historic event. It has been very hard. There have been lots of twists and turns. It's not been an easy road but we are pleased to have got there.'

•For the full story see tomorrow's Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News.