This spine-tingling discovery captured today under a pier in Gravesend was certainly one to make your bones chill.

The mysteriously-shaped object was photographed at low tide under the Town Pier and has sparked a wave of interest online.

It was tweeted by the On The Thames website, which dedicates itself to news along the River Thames.

It has been described by some as "sinister" ... but make no bones about it the object appears to be formed of old metal and rope.

Gravesend's town centre manager Graham Long replied: "we've not seen anything like that before - how bizarre and intruiging!!"

While a Gravesend RNLI spokesman said: "Looks like rope and metal but very sinister looking."

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