Plans to open the lost network of World War II tunnels under Dover’s White Cliffs has been given a boost after successful fundraising by the National Trust’s volunteers.

Nearly £7,000 from the trust’s annual Dover Plant Fair will go towards the opening of the Fan Bay Deep Shelter which provided wartime accommodation for hundreds of soldiers of the Fan Bay gun battery.

The entrances of the shelter were sealed and backfilled after the war and the National Trust plans to take out the blocking material and open up the shelter to the public in its original state.

General manager of the National Trust White Cliffs of Dover, Virginia Portman said: “We were delighted to be able to acquire ownership of the shelter recently and we are now seeking funding to enable us to open the tunnels to the public.

“The plant fair has yet again raised much needed cash for an important project. Our volunteers make a tremendous effort in both growing the plants and running the fair and, as always, the event was a great success because of this.”

Affinity Water helped sponsor the plant fair and asset manager Haroon Atif said: “The cash raised is going towards a fascinating local heritage project which will provide a new visitor attraction on the White Cliffs.”

The National Trust is already looking for volunteers to support its 2015 Dover plant fair and for volunteers to help with work at Fan Bay. For more details contact Gareth Wiltshire, the visitor experience manager, on 01304 207326.