The remains of about 400 British and Australian First World War soldiers will be dug up from a battlefield in northern France and given individual burials.

The excavation of six mass graves on the Somme will begin in May after archaeologists found human remains and fragments of kit and equipment. The work is expected to take up to six months.

The bodies will each be buried with full military honours in a new cemetery near the town of Fromelles.

Veterans minister Kevan Jones said: "By the end of the project in 2010 all the bodies will be permanently laid to rest in individual graves at a new Commonwealth war graves cemetery. Wherever it is possible to identify the remains, named graves will be provided."

During the battle at Fromelles on 19 and 20 July 1916 more than 5,500 Australian troops were killed or injured as they attacked fortified German positions. Britain lost 1,468 men.

German soldiers buried many in pits after the attack. Australians have described the battle as "the worst 24 hours in Australia's history".

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