A DEDICATED volunteer has been recognised for his work running Skelmorlie's 'secret underground bunker'.

Frank Alexander received the Palladium voluntary award at a special presentation hosted by the leader of North Ayrshire Council, Marie Burns.

The gong was given to him in recognition of his 20 years spent restoring the once-derelict monitoring post and turning it into a valued heritage and museum site.

Franks was given the Adult Volunteer Recognition Award for outstanding contribution in volunteering role with 25 Group Royal Observer Corps Association - and revealed he only signed up because of an piece in the Tele some 25 years ago.

Skelmorlie is one of the very few restored Royal Observer Corps underground monitoring posts open to the public after being mothballed when the Cold War ended in 1991.

Frank, who is a retired team leader from Hunterston Power Station, joined the Royal Observer Corps noticed an advertisement in the Telegraph in the 1990s and became an observer lieutenant.

He recalled: "I remember seeing that the former nuclear monitoring post was in a derelict condition in an overgrown field and I had this mad notion to restore it in order to publicise the role of the Corps. A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into the project before it opened in September 2004. It is amazing to think it will have soon been operating for 20 years.

"We have had thousands of visitors from all over the world in that time, including USA, Canada, and Australia.

"There were a number of sites all over Scotland with nuclear monitoring posts including West Kilbride, Gourock, and Kilchattan Bay in Bute, but many of them are now in a derelict state or have been demolished. It is a real shame."

The post's primary function was to monitor and report on the effects of a nuclear attack as part of an extensive chain throughout the United Kingdom. Access is achieved by climbing down a 15 foot vertical steel ladder.

Frank added: "It is great to receive the recognition given when we took over the lease of the land in 2003 it was basically a derelict concrete box and now it is a recognised museum site.

"We are developing a community outreach programme and we have a relationship with the Largs Radio Club to develop it as an amateur ham centre.

"We also have the HM Coastguard Unit visiting us once a year to use the site as a specialised unit for training and we also have Scout groups and the Ardrossan Air Training Cadets coming back this year to visit.

"We participated last year in the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations by lighting the beacon and that was a real highlight.

"We are also looking at developing the site as a stopping point for walkers and cyclists as part of a coastal trail, providing them with a rest break for hot and cold drinks and toilet facilities. There are lots of things to look forward to."

To book a visit, call Frank on 07513 504 115 or email info@skelmorliesecretbunker.co.uk