TRAPPED underground - it was a nightmare which Carolyn Kendal will never forget.

It was 15 years ago that Carolyn was nearly buried alive with six other teenagers after climbing into the subterranean air raid shelters at Leigh Road Recreation Ground, Eastleigh.

They lifted up the manhole cover and used a ladder, which was found nearby, to lower themselves into the 10ft-deep tunnel.

But their adventure nearly turned into disaster when, unknown to them, pranksters had replaced the manhole cover.

Then the prank took a macabre twist when earth and wreath-like flowers were scattered across the top.

Despite that harrowing ordeal the 30-year-old Romsey mother-of-two is backing calls for the controversial shelters, which have got the civic bullet, to be given a last minute reprieve.

Council chiefs have already ordered that the Second World War tunnels should be filled in, despite a long-running campaign to save them.

Carolyn, who has been following the controversy through the Daily Echo, said: "These tunnels are part of Eastleigh's history.

"It would be a shame to lose them. Surely with today's technology something could be done to preserve them."

She was among seven teenagers - four boys and three girls - who decided to explore the tunnels at about 9pm in pitch darkness.

They used the flame of a cigarette lighter to inch their way through the maze of tunnels.

But when they returned to the ladder they discovered the manhole cover had been put back and they were trapped.

Carolyn, who was then a 15-year-old pupil at Alderman Quilley School, said: "Unfortunately, while we were down there some lads replaced the manhole cover and put sandbags and a wreath on top.

"We were lucky that somebody made an anonymous call to the police, otherwise I would not be here to tell the tale." They were entombed in the chamber for about 30 minutes before being rescued by firefighters.

The rescue drama hit the front page of the Southern Evening Echo on September 29, 1987 with headline "Deadly Prank Traps Seven." Carolyn, whose maiden name was Eldridge, recalled the moment they realised they were trapped.

"It was really scary," she said. "We just wandered around the tunnel. One girl was crying. We were more concerned about the trouble we would be in for being down there. Then the police opened up the hatch."

At the time the prank was slammed by police and a spokesman said: "These youngsters could have gone undetected if someone had not made a 999 call and they may never have been found."

But there is no danger of the prank being repeated.

An Eastleigh Council spokesman said: "The manhole covers were safely sealed following the incident to prevent a similar situation.

"Now the shelters are being filled in prior to proposals for park improvements."

Work on filling in the shelters is expected to start in November.

If you were one of the trapped seven and would like to tell your story, ring the Daily Echo on 023 8061 4271.