New England police and emergency service volunteers began a search along the Mehi River bank on Wednesday, after human bones were discovered in the area on New Year’s Day.

On Thursday and Friday, police utilised a cadavar dog from Sydney, New England Police District resources and police rescue personnel, as well as SES and RFS volunteers to scour both sides of the river bank, in the area between Anne and Edward streets.

READ MORE: Search goes on: human bones could be local missing person

Rescuers have been looking for anything that could be linked to the bones, with the area cordoned off and under police guard.

“On both days we’ve located what’s believed to be bone fragments, however it’s too early to say whether they’re animal or human bones,” New England Police District Inspector Cheryl Day said.

Police covered five square kilometres during Thursday’s search.

More ground was being covered on Friday, however Inspector Day said the search will be scaled back on Friday afternoon.

Police are looking at doing a water search in the coming days.

The skeletal remains found on New Year’s Day have been sent to Newcastle for forensic examination, which is expected to take some time.

Inspector Day said while it was too early to link the remains to any particular missing person report, the homicide squad is not involved in the investigation.

“The missing person from Fairview is in mind, but there’s nothing to link it at this stage,” she said.

Nearly a year ago to the day, on January 5, 2018, William ‘John’ ‘Torro’ Torrens went missing from Fairview Retirement Village, not far from where the human remains were found on January 1, 2019.

Anyone with information on the remains is urged to contact Moree police on 6757 0799 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

“If anyone has sighted any remains in or near the river, we’re seeking their assistance,” Inspector Day said.