A MALVERN school is celebrating 75 years of going underground as it marks a special anniversary of a unique tunnel to improve road safety for pupils.

Alice Baird, founder of St James's School in West Malvern Road, decided, back in 1930, that drastic measures were needed to protect girls crossing the road.

The school has found comments in its archives showing her concerns prompted by the level of traffic which she said had reached a dangerous level - at almost three cars a day!

She therefore decided that a tunnel would be the safest method for them to cross and drew up designs with the help of road surveyor Osborne Thorpe.

The tunnel was a major feat of engineering, as the excavation had to bore through solid granite, taking months to complete.

And the entrance to De Walden House, part of the school, was opened by Lady Baden-Powell - who Miss Baird first met in 1911 when she became a county commissioner for Guides - in 1930, with her signature and the date engraved at the opening.

Her husband Lord Badell-Powell - the Scouting movement founder - finally opened the tunnel later that term, and also signed the structure. The tunnel is still in use to this day, with pupils using it to journey between lessons.

Now the school is planning to mark the event by holding a special assembly and projects throughout the term.

Development director Gill Owen said many pupils and staff took it for granted, while many of the public were unaware of its existence.

"I was a bit surprised when I first got here and was told there was a tunnel," she said.

"I think the most amazing thing was Alice Baird had the most incredible foresight to put it in and the determination to see it through."