IT'S been lying undiscovered beneath Southampton's corridors of power for decades.

Now workmen digging beneath the city Civic Centre have stumbled on a secret bomb-proof bunker.

The discovery has stunned archaeologists, who had no idea it existed. Now they are hoping Daily Echo readers will be able to shed some light on the mysterious chamber.

The bunker was unearthed behind a basement wall, during works to upgrade and extend the accommodation for the city's archives

Behind the rusted, blast-proof door, a five-metre corridor leads to a narrow room clad with steel and concrete, and a secret escape hatch even leads to the surface.

It is thought the T-shaped room would have been used as an emergency escape hatch - and council archaeologist Dr Andy Russel even reckons two alcoves would have been used as toilets.

He believes it dates back to the Cold War in the 50s when England was in the grip of fear over a possible Russian invasion.

He believes this is why it appears on none of the original architect's drawings for the Civic Centre, which was built in the early 1930s. If he is right the chamber would have been a top secret bolt-hole for city rulers.

It contained no artefacts, apart from two sand-filled fire buckets, but council officials have been amazed by the discovery.

Dr Russel said: "This is fantastic. It's unique. Everything else in the Civic Centre from that period has been removed and for this to have survived untouched is amazing."

Archaeology enthusiast Audrey Wylie lists it among her top finds.

"We tried to find this before because we had heard rumours about its existence, but never thought it was really here," she said.

Conservation manager Kevin White added: "We'd be very keen to hear from anyone who remembers it and knows exactly what it was used for and when."

Contact the Daily Echo if you know anything about the bunker. Call Claire Moriarty on 023 8042 4495.

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