Remains of a German woman who disappeared 40 years ago are found in an attic by man clearing out his father's house

The remains of a German woman who disappeared 40 years ago have been discovered by a man clearing his father's attic.

The 33-year-old made the grizzly discovery when he went up to the attic of his father's farmhouse in Cloppenburg, Lower Saxony.

Police spokesman Josef Schade said: 'A discovery of this type is a very unusual event.'

Having previously been untouched for 40 years, the woman's skeleton was found still in the clothes she had been wearing at the time. 

It's understood the remains are those of a woman who went missing from an address three miles from the farmhouse in 1976. 

Authorities say the woman had a history of mental illness and that once after being missing for six weeks, she was found in some woods. 

They believe the woman went up into the attic to sleep and froze to death despite wearing several jackets.  

After the post mortem and a dental analysis, police say they are confident the bones belong to the woman, according to The Local.

Nobody is being pursued in connection with the death.