THE Edinburgh-based screenwriter who launched the search for the remains of King Richard III said she did not expect to make such a promising find.

Philippa Langley, secretary of the Scottish Richard III society, was one of the chief instigators of the archeological dig which has unearthed a skeleton with a metal arrow in its back, which it has been claimed could be the remains of the medieval monarch. The skeleton was exhumed from a car park behind council offices in Leicester last Tuesday during an archaeological dig by a team from the city's university and is now being subjected to laboratory analysis.

DNA testing will now take place to establish if the body belonged to Richard III, who died in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485.

There are signs the person died of severe wounds and the skeleton also bears striking similarities to descriptions of the king which said he was a hunchback.

Ms Langley, 50, said: "This find has been beyond our expectations and is the culmination of around three years' work. I'm exhausted but very excited.

"I was sitting on a chair watching the entire thing. There was a tumult of emotions. I think shock, excitement, sadness and happiness all mixed into one.

"It means a great deal and I think it's going to mean a great deal for research into Richard III and all those who are involved in learning about this much maligned king."

The remains were found in what is believed to be the choir of the Grey Friars church, the site of which was also uncovered during the three-week archaeological dig and which is believed to be the burial site of the monarch according to historical records.

Initial examinations have revealed it to be the skeleton of an adult male with the remains said to be in a good condition. It also has a curved spine.

Richard Taylor, from Leicester University, said the skeleton has spinal abnormalities, which are consistent with reports of the monarch's appearance.

Mr Taylor said: "We believe the individual would have had severe scoliosis which is a form of spinal curvature.

"This would have made his right shoulder appear visibly higher than the left shoulder. This is consistent with contemporary accounts of Richard's appearance."

He added: "We are not saying today that we have found Richard III. What we are saying is that the search for Richard III has entered a new phase.

"Our focus is shifting from the archaeological excavation to laboratory analysis. This skeleton certainly has characteristics that warrant extensive further detailed examination."