A STUNNED pensioner has discovered a Second World War air raid shelter lurking beneath weeds in his back garden.

Peter Tizzard, 68, was amazed when he unearthed the brick-built structure from under vines at his Weymouth home.

He was even more astonished when he found gas mask goggles and a tobacco tin dating back to the war intact and untouched inside.

"It's a lovely bit of history to have in my own back yard," he said. "This is the bee's knees, it's just so unique.

"I've heard of people finding old wells and things like the when they move into new houses but I never ever imagined I might find an air raid shelter."

Mr Tizzard and his wife Maureen moved from Crossways to the eight-bedroom house in Old Castle Road last August.

He said: "We didn't even see the air raid shelter when we came to view the property.

"It's at the end of a 40ft-long old stable block in the garden. It was covered in weeds and it's not the sort of thing you'd look for is it? It's only when I cleaned all that off that I discovered it. To my amazement, there was this air raid shelter."

Motorcycle enthusiast Mr Tizzard said the shelter had been left exactly how it would have been during the Second World War.

He said the lighting still worked and it comes complete with five bunks and an escape hatch.

"Most of the shelters I've seen are Anderson Shelters like my parents had," he said. "But this is a completely different kettle of fish.

"All the panels are still in the door and there are air vents and an escape hatch, it's quite an impressive bit of construction.

"The gas mask goggles are still in their packets and they say 1943 on them. And you can still smell the tobacco in the tin.

"It's all been left just as it was, it's so fascinating. I don't honestly think you could stumble across something quite as original as this."

Grandfather-of-three Mr Tizzard is now thinking about opening up his home to people to show off the structure.

"I've cleaned it up and done some rewiring but I also think it's very important to preserve it," he said.

"I certainly don't think it should ever be knocked down. There can't be many air raid shelters left around like this.

"It's just wonderful living with such an important piece of history and I believe it should be left as it is."