THEY called her Victoria Warsash. A simple brass plaque bore the name given to her by people she did not know.

It was a small congregation who gathered to pay their respects to the woman whose remains were washed up on the shores of Warsash two weeks ago.

Led by Reverend Andrew Norris, the small wooden casket was carried to the spot in a corner of St Mary's churchyard in Warsash that will be the final resting place of the woman who died a century ago.

She was buried alongside another woman whose remains were also discovered on Warsash beach some eight years ago.

One of the parishioners, Pat Gulliford, said: "As far as we can remember the other woman was buried around the same place so we thought it was appropriate for her to be buried there too."

A simple ceremony was followed with prayers said by the three parishioners who came to mark the occasion.

Rev Norris said: "It was a dignified ceremony where she was laid to rest."

A small posy of wild flowers was laid on top of the small mound of earth that would otherwise be an unmarked grave.

Church parishioners are considering placing a plaque on the site so people will know that "Victoria" lies there.

Her partially complete skeleton was found on Warsash beach on November 16. Forensic tests revealed they belonged to a woman aged between 17 and 21 who lived in the Victorian era and died about 100 years ago.

From the position of the find it is likely the sea uncovered the bones in their original grave. According to experts, it is possible the woman was from the travelling community who lived and worked in the Fareham and Warsash area, mainly as fruit pickers, during the Victorian era.

Once a criminal investigation was ruled out the bones were released earlier this week to allow them to be buried.