LONDON, April 1, 2008 (AFP) - Two young sisters found a woman's severed head while playing on a British beach Tuesday, police said.

The grisly find in a plastic bag was discovered at Arbroath on the Scottish east coast, Tayside Police said, adding that a hand had also been recovered.

A specialist team were searching the beach, a police spokeswoman said.

'Tayside Police has cordoned off a section of beach at Arbroath in Angus today after the apparent discovery of human body parts,' she said.

'Officers attended at a stretch of foreshore... after the grim discovery was made by children playing on the beach.

'They found what appears to be the head of a woman concealed in a plastic bag. A hand has also been recovered from the beach.

'It is understood that they belong to a woman. Scenes of crime officers are in attendance and an extensive search of the beachfront is continuing at this time.

'The items are being removed and will be subject to further detailed forensic examination.'