A WWII air raid shelter is being transformed into a quaint tea room beside one of Co Down 's prettiest parks.
The red brick building once housed Bangor families fleeing to safety from the Luftwaffe in April 1941 as they flew across Northern Ireland.
Bangor came under sudden air attack and a number of shelters were used to keep people safe.
In the early 1960s the shelter was used by the then Bangor Technical College as a classroom and more recently it had been home to the North Down Cycling Club.
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The shelter, with its thick walls and solid concrete roof, sits at the residential Park Drive end of the park, partly concealed by trees and today it is being prepared for its latest transformation, this time into a space for the public to enjoy tea, coffees and cakes.
Plans have been approved for a 23-seater cafe with further seating outside under two awnings and work is underway.
Ward Park was acquired more than 100 years ago for the benefit of residents and tourists along with Ballyholme Park, the Marine Gardens and Stricklands Glen which were all being used by the public by 1914.
And today it is still popular with locals and visitors, used at the start and end point for Park Run and the 37 acre park Ward Park attracts families with children to the playground, dog walkers and has a cricket pitch, bowling greens, putting green and 10 tennis courts.
In July and August with its flower beds in full bloom, crowds arrived with picnics and seating to enjoy free live music at the bandstand takes place every Sunday from 3pm-5pm, as part of the annual Open House Festival.
Ward Park has also hosted a number of open air concerts at the Ward Arras side of the Park bringing in international artists including homegrown talent Snow Patrol.
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