The remains of 17th century Scottish soldiers who were captured by Cromwell's army will stay in England after major research is completed.

The bones, dating back to the Battle of Dunbar in 1650, were found in a mass grave in Durham during construction work in 2013.

The remains of the prisoners of war have been subject to extensive research by Durham University archaeologists since the discovery.

A consultation was launched to gauge views on whether the bones should be reburied in Durham or back in Scotland.

The university announced on Wednesday that the remains will be interred in Elvet Hill Road Cemetery in Durham near where they were found once the research is complete.

They will also be permanently commemorated with a plaque near the site, which will be made from stone cut in Dunbar.

Durham University will apply to the Ministry of Justice for an extension to the timescales of the exhumation licence to allow for further research to be completed before reburial.

The work is likely to be completed late next year, after which reburial will take place.

A small sample of teeth will be kept by the university to allow further research as new techniques and opportunities become available.

The remains of the soldiers were found in a mass grave during construction work on Durham University's Palace Green Library Cafe in November 2013.

None of the skeletons exhumed is complete as only the bones directly affected by the construction work were removed.

Analysis of the bones proved they were the remains of Scottish soldiers from the Battle of Dunbar, which finally provided an answer as to where they were buried.

It is now believed an estimated 1700 prisoners from the battle died and were buried in Durham.

Academics believe think are more mass graves under buildings at the site which were constructed up to 260 years ago.

The university concluded that keeping the incomplete skeletons near the other mass graves and close to their comrades was the "most ethically responsible course of action".

Professor David Cowling, pro-vice-chancellor for arts and humanities at Durham University, said: "The decision on where to rebury the soldiers was very complex.

"We were acutely aware of the strength and depth of interest amongst many about the fate of these soldiers, whilst at the same time recognising our ethical, moral and legal obligations.

"All options were explored fully by the university and in the end it was felt that the case for reburying the remains in Durham and also commemorating them here with a plaque was strongest."

The team worked with professional bodies and other academics to consider existing best practice and comparative case studies, including the decisions around the reburial of the remains of King Richard III.

Professor Chris Gerrard, head of the project team at Durham University, said: "Consultation has helped us to make a fully informed decision regarding what happens next to the remains.

"It has been hugely rewarding to see the level of interest in the Scottish Soldiers Archaeology Project.

"All those we consulted with agreed that a respectful and dignified reburial and commemoration was vital.

"There have been some excellent suggestions for how this should be achieved, such as using Scottish soil for the reburial and stone from Dunbar for the commemorative plaque."

A plaque in Durham Cathedral dedicated to the soldiers, which was installed in November 2011, will also be updated to reflect their final resting place.

Plans are being drawn up by Durham University and Durham Cathedral to hold a commemorative event later this year to remember the soldiers and unveil both the new and the updated plaques.

Canon Rosalind Brown, of Durham Cathedral, said she would liaise with the local church and churches in Scotland to arrange a "fitting and dignified reburial".

It was confirmed in September 2015 that the remains belonged to Scottish soldiers who were taken prisoner after the 1650 Battle of Dunbar.

Following the conflict, thousands of soldiers were marched more than 100 miles from East Lothian to Durham in north east England.

Around 3000 soldiers were imprisoned in Durham Cathedral and Castle, at a time when the cathedral was empty and abandoned.

Those that survived imprisonment in Durham were transported to different parts of the world including Virginia and New England, USA, where they worked as indentured servants.