Texas bodies tip-off 'a hoax'

Authorities in Texas have admitted that a tip-off about a mass grave containing dozens of bodies east of Houston has turned out to be a hoax.

Two calls made by a woman claiming to be a psychic sparked a huge search at the farm by FBI and local agents.

Liberty County Judge Craig McNair confirmed that the tip-off was bogus, telling reporters "there is no crime scene".

The judge said the sheriff’s office received two calls from a person who said dismembered bodies would be found at the house about 70 miles north-east of Houston.

Judge McNair said officials have to take such tips seriously.

He said deputies who went to the property found blood on a back door and detected a foul odour from the house.

He said the blood may have come from a suicide attempt reported at the home a couple of weeks ago.

Captain Rex Evans of Liberty County Sheriff’s Department later said there was no indication of bodies being anywhere on the rural property.

Captain Evans said authorities took the tip seriously partly because the caller had details about the interior of the house that only someone who had seen it could have known.

He said authorities now have a name and number for the caller and are working to track them down.