King’s Lynn’s secret nuclear shelter from the Cold War set to remain off limits

Graham Wray inside the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

For officials say there are no immediate plans to allow the public to view King's Lynn's secret bunker from which much of Norfolk would have been governed in the event of a nuclear war.

Once a top secret, the underground shelter is tucked away beneath an old people's day centre, on one of the main roads out of town.

Telephone numbers and other informnation on the walls of the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

A Norfolk County Council spokesman said: 'There are currently no plans to open the site to the public. It is wind and water tight and is not deteriorating any further.

'It wouldn't be fair on those people attending the Crossroads Day Centre if we opened the site up and disturbed them with lots of visitors coming and going.'

Inside the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

The EDP was given a tour of the facility off the Wootton Road in 2012.

The subterranean complex is hidden down flights of stairs from an anonymous porch.

Inside the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

It once housed a command and control centre, from which damage reports and casualty numbers would have been collated in the immediate aftermath of an attack.

Charts on the walls have spaces to record radiation levels and casualties across West Norfolk if the balloon had ever gone up.

Graham Wray inside the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

Graham Wray inside the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

Bunk beds inside the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

Inside the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

The civil defence bunker is under the Crossroads Day Centre in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

Inside the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

Inside the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

The steps that lead down into the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)

The main door to the civil defence bunker in King's Lynn. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant © 2012)