VILLAGE campaigners fighting to preserve Wolverley's Drakelow Tunnels have said a national newspaper campaign earmarking the site as a potential prison should act as a "wake-up call" to Wyre Forest residents.

The Sun called for the Government to consider using the 52-acre complex, along with 15 other sites around the country, to house convicts to ease prison overcrowding problems.

Members of the Drakelow Preservation Trust - DPT - formed to battle controversial training centre proposals earlier this year, described the suggestion as a "new threat".

Andy Cox, spokesman for the group, said the newspaper's campaign had come as a shock and it had left some residents with "a sense of deja vu".

He explained: "This is nothing new. Similar plans to house a prison on Wolverley Camp in the 60s were rejected at a public inquiry after residents objected. I do not think anything has changed.

"Until this site is purchased, either by a group of conservationists, an organisation such as the National Trust or English Heritage, it will be under constant threat of development and its historical treasures lost forever."

"I hope this is a wake-up call to the people of Wyre Forest to be very aware of what is on their doorstep. Preservation and opening the site to the public is, in our opinion, the only option or this site will be buried in concrete and lost forever."

The historic Drakelow Tunnels were built during the Second World War to manufacture aircraft engines before being designated as a Regional Seat of Government in the event of a Cold War attack. The site has been in private ownership since 1994.

Wyre Forest MP, Dr Richard Taylor, who has thrown his weight behind DPT's cause, dismissed the prison suggestions as "absolutely ridiculous".

He added: "I expect there would be a tremendous amount of objection if the proposal was considered by the Government. When you look at issues like transport, health and safety, and infrastructure, the site is just immensely unsuitable."

Birmingham-based Jericho Comm-unity Business caused a storm earlier this year after it submitted proposals to use the site as a training centre for the unemployed, which could have included ex-offenders, the homeless, former drug addicts and disabled people.

It withdrew its plans from Wyre Forest District Council in May but confirmed it intended to resubmit a new planning application later this year.