English Heritage is charging its members £30 to go on a tour of a huge tunnel complex built to shelter people from bombs during the Blitz.

The dank tunnels, which run 50ft deep thorough chalk in Epsom, are now home to war gamers and bats.

Planning permission has also been granted to turn them into a vault for precious metals.

John, from Elite Action Games, said he would be present when about 30 members of English Heritage go round the tunnels with a war expert tomorrow.

He is happy for English Heritage to carry out the tour, but he added: "I’m a little bit perturbed that they are charging so much especially when I’m giving my time up for free."

He said: "I would rather people arrange to come down there than try to break-in. We have got something of interest."

Back in February a cache of replica guns and grenades were salvaged from deep floodwater, only for them to be stolen. Thieves then used oxyacetylene torches to cut through locks on a thick metal door.

John said they spent thousands of pounds on replacing flood-damaged boards used in war games and a massive clean-up took a month.

He said: "Clubs survive on the efforts of their members. People roll up their sleeves."

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A spokesman for English Heritage said the cost covered "exclusive access" to the tunnels for the sold-out tour and the hire of a World War Two expert.

He said: "The tour is run by an individual who specialises in Second World War re-enactment and history.

"Apparently the Blitz Bunker is still owned privately (I believe war gaming type events still take place there) and we have gained permission to run a tour of the property.

"At the moment it is just planned to be a one-off event."

David Brooks, museum assistant at Bourne Hall, said he was one of the first people to enter the damp air raid shelter when it was reopened. He remembers anti-Thatcher graffiti on the wall.

He said: "The fire brigade had to pump the air out when we went down there. We are wondering why English Heritage are doing tours. It’s all rather intriguing."

The English Heritage website said: "By the late 1930's war was expected as much as it was dreaded and massive aerial bombardment was a threat that civil defence organisations and local government had to prepare for.

"In 1937, Surrey County Council began work on two deep level air raid shelters for the citizens of Epsom.

"Our tour takes you in to one of these bunkers, to explore the tunnels where ordinary people sought shelter from the almost nightly blitz on British towns and cities by Hilter's Luftwaffe.

"There are steps and small dark spaces on the tour, therefore we have graded the event as challenging access."