A unique country retreat has exploded onto the mid Essex property market.

It is little more than a hole in the ground and in need of renovation - but it can withstand the blast from an atomic bomb.

The former nuclear shelter is buried in the corner of a farmer's field off the main road between Dunmow and Stebbing.

After just two weeks on the market the bolthole has attracted seven potential buyers - with three offers matching its £10,000 asking price.

The shelter was built at the height of the Cold War in the 1950s, when Britons lived in fear of attack from the Russians.

It was constructed to survive a nuclear blast from an attack on London and was used by the Royal Observer Corps as a monitoring station.

Accessed by a concrete shaft, the bunker is 10ft underground and boasts a main room measuring 15ft by 7ft 4in.

The property is the smallest and cheapest Uttlesford estate agents Mullucks Wells have ever advertised.

The attractive price tag offers no gas or electricity, although there is an old hand pump for the water supply and a separate chemical toilet.

House hunters will be pleased to know there is room to park two to three cars on the site.

Estate agent Diane Smith said: "In 20 years I have never dealt with anything like this before. It is something quite unusual.

"We knew it would generate a lot of interest although I am quite surprised at the number of people wanting to buy it."

Mrs Smith said prospective buyers are eyeing the location as a country retreat or as a long term investment.

Other clients suggested they may extend the bunker as an underground eco-house or as a museum.

The estate agents expect to sell the property over the next two weeks.

Farmer Tony Lanyon inherited the property when the Cold War thawed in the 1980s and the Government gave the land back to him. Deciding he had no use for the bunker he contacted Mullucks Wells and asked them to put it on the market.

Published Thursday February 10, 2005

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