A HISTORIC underground air raid shelter has been filled in ahead of demolition work starting on Keighley's former college.

Bulldozers are to move in to flatten the derelict Cavendish Street building later this year.

But contractors first had to rid the site of the shelter, which was discovered three years ago beneath the old college car park.

Diggers were on-site this week carrying out the work.

Paul North, Bradford Council's Airedale Masterplan manager, said details of the shelter had been fully recorded.

"There are other examples of such shelters and there has been no requirement to retain this one," he added.

"Photos of the Second World War shelter were taken at the time of its discovery and these can be accessed through the West Yorkshire Historic Environment Record based in Wakefield.

"Further information gained this week will be added."

The shelter was brick built with a reinforced concrete ceiling, was about three feet wide and had four linked corridors in a rectangular layout.

Wooden benches were largely rotted but there was still evidence of the wall fixings.

Some of the floors were covered by wooden boards to keep people's feet off the cold concrete floor.

The structure was uncovered, about three feet below ground, during demolition of an unwanted boiler house in the car park.

The shelter, which was not included on the building's plans, was resealed pending a decision on the site's future.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, now council leader who at that time was portfolio holder for employment, skills and culture, said she was fascinated by the discovery.

She added she was delighted the find had been recorded for the history archives.

Other such shelters existed under Town Hall Square and beneath the Oakworth Road roundabout.

Elizabeth Chamberlin, from the West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service, said: "Householders were encouraged to modify their own homes or build small domestic shelters in response to concerns over the threat of gas attacks, blasts from high explosives and incendiary bombs.

"Factories, businesses, schools and other institutions also provided air raid shelters."

Councillors in July approved plans for the ex-college block, which has been vacant for six years, to be demolished and replaced with a £19 million 'hub' for council and other services.

The building had been marketed for some time, but without success.