According to regional broadcaster France 3 Normandy, which cites a source close to the investigation, the first leg was found in the canal water by a fisherman and the second was “wrapped in plastic, near the canal” in the town of Blainville-sur-Orne in Calvados.

The Caen prosecutor’s office told AFP on Saturday that it had “no information concerning the age, identity or origin of the person whose legs were found”.

Prosecutor Joël Garrigue said that “at this stage” no hypotheses were being ruled out or in. 

Gendarmes explored the canal and its surroundings for three days to look for possible remains of bodies and clues. Searches have now stopped but could could resume next week, the broadcaster said.

The legs were sent for analysis to the Criminal Research Institute of the National Gendarmerie (IRCGN).