A huge Second World War bunker has been unearthed by contractors working on the new Dover hospital site.

The discovery, along with some deeply buried asbestos, means a two-month delay to the completion of the new hospital in Coombe Valley Road.

But it was no easy job to remove the bunker.

It called for a massive excavation 50 metres by 24 metres, and four metres deep, providing archaeologists with the opportunity to examine the site.

They say they found little of interest other than a small number of prehistoric struck flints, appearing to have been washed down with silt deposits from the upper slopes of the nearby Whinless Down.

In clearing the site contractors have also found asbestos under the concrete foundations of the old mortuary and pathology buildings. This material has already been safely removed from site.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust’s Deputy Director of Estates and Facilities, Finbarr Murray said “We knew a bunker existed but the sheer size of the bunker was a surprise.

"It was important that we followed right procedures and in dealing with both issues correctly has meant a delay to our preliminary work.

"I should also stress, there is no risk to staff, patients or visitors arising from either issue.

"The project team is now working to identify any opportunities to return the build to its original completion date of December 2014, but at present the completion date has been adjusted to the end of February 2015.”