As revealed by the Echo, forgotten chambers containing up to 400 sets of human remains from the Victorian era were discovered under a development site in Villiers Street, Sunniside.

Archaeologists are investigating the rare find, which belonged to a now-demolished chapel, before the remains are removed for analysis and reburial in Bishopwearmouth Cemetery.

But Fred Merrington, whose ancestor Peter Marrington was interred in the vaults, thinks families buried there should be left to lie in peace.

"Peter put money up for the building of the chapel," he said. "He bought the vault, and his son, wife, grandson and himself were put in there. They wanted to make sure they had somewhere to be buried.

"All those people bought those vaults and their time of eternal peace has been shattered."

Mr Merrington, 71, was born in Easington Lane and now lives in Luton. He discovered the burial record for Peter Marrington – a master mariner of Vine Street who died in 1844 – while tracing his family tree.

The former miner wants the Sunniside Partnership, which is responsible for the area's regeneration, to build around the site and perhaps create a raised garden with a memorial on top of the vaults.

His distant relation Jill Arrol, from Bradford, thinks they should be kept as monument to Sunderland's history and those buried there. "It just seems such a shame," she said.

Peter Marrington was Mrs Arrol's four times great-grandfather. He was buried with wife Elizabeth and grandson Robert Nicholson – from whom Mrs Arrol's mother was descended.

"You learn so much about them, it feels like you know them," she said.

Independent councillor Peter Maddison said the vaults could attract visitors to the city.

But Ben Hall, director of the Sunniside Partnership, said: "Leaving the remains in situ would involve extensive and expensive structural work, which would have been likely to disturb the remains.

"The decision to carry out a careful excavation was agreed and supported by all partners and was in accordance with planning guidance.

"It ensures all findings are removed and recorded in a safe and respectful way and enables important analysis to be carried out."

Mr Hall said there was no scope for making the vaults into a visitor site, as confined spaces and difficult stair access meant it was not safe for public access.

He added: "We have been granted an official licence by the Ministry of Justice to rebury the remains and, once the excavation and research is complete, we will be able to further consider how this can be carried out in sensitive and appropriate manner. "