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Inside the secret Cold War bunker left abandoned in major UK city with miles of concrete tunnels and nuke-proof walls
BT workers still use the tunnels for modern communication links
A TOP secret Cold War bunker lies abandoned underneath a major UK city with miles of concrete tunnels and nuke-proof walls.
Located 115ft below the bustling Birmingham streets, remains a complex bunker designed to safeguard against a nuclear attack.
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The underground network, built in the 1950s, is well-hidden with just a few knowing where the entrance is.
The structure was built to protect Britain's telecommunications from bomb strikes during the Cold War.
It was named "Anchor", after Birmingham's jewellery hallmark.
The secret bunker extends for miles from the BT Tower to Southside and beyond.
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BT workers are still using the tunnel for modern communication links.
The amazing structure once housed generators and plant equipment providing power to the bunker, according to Birmingham Live.
This ensured the Telephone Exchange - located on the top floor - would stay operational for months.
Around 20 trained supervisors looked after the vast telecommunication equipment.
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However, by the 1980s, technological advancements in communication left much of the equipment stored in the bunker outdated.
The rooms that were used to store the advanced technology are still intact today.
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Members of the public can visit the spooky canteen and mess halls that once featured pool tables.
These tunnels will likely remain relevant for years as they continue to support crucial cable lines that keep Birmingham's communication network running.
Birmingham is not the only major city to have a Cold War bunker.
Pear Tree House looks like just another humdrum block of flats in suburban South London.
Completed in 1966, the bunker would have provided refuge for local officials in the event of a nuclear war.
Civil servants and other officials would have lived in the 18-room subterranean structure during the aftermath of a nuclear strike on London.
The officials would have raced into the structure and then sealed the blast door behind them.
They would have been tasked with attempting to provide important civil functions in the event of war as London suffered mass casualties with the NHS overwhelmed.
The bunker's communications centre would have been a key hub, where officials attempted to stay in touch with the government and other public authorities.
The Scientific Advisors Room was another key area where officials would have monitored nuclear zones in the London area.
The bunker also featured a canteen with a serving hatch, toilet facilities and a ventilation system.
In the 1980s the bunker was targeted by anti-nuclear protest groups such as CND.
The structure was used as an emergency centre by London Fire and Civil Defence Authority until the early 1990s.
Local historians retain a keen interest in the site which is a stark reminder of Cold War era Britain.
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It comes after an incredible nuclear bunker was listed for sale with its price slashed by more than half.
And this forgotten bunker built to protect the Royal Family from a nuclear attack is open to visitors.
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