Aboriginal elders caused a British museum to be evacuated when a ceremony to reclaim ancient bones set off the fire alarm.

The delegation had travelled from Australia to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter, Devon to recover four skulls which were plundered by explorers 140 years ago.

But as they carried out a cleansing ritual over the remains, ceremonial incense set off the smoke alarms and everyone in the building was evacuated into the pouring rain.