PEOPLE are being asked to help solve the mystery of a secret military building found in the undergrowth at a former air base near Bicester.

Historical research using old RAF records, maps and photographs has shown no trace of the building, which was built before December 1946.

Historic England and Bicester Heritage, which now occupies the former RAF Bicester site, are now appealing for information about the shelter-like structure.

Philip White, of Bicester Heritage, said: “We would love to dig deeper into the story of this structure.

“We don’t know what it was used for or when it was constructed, but we hope that someone will know what purpose it served, particularly as it is in such a prominent location on the edge of the airfield and must have been visible from the road.

“It’s in an important part of the site historically, next to what was an enormous refuelling area close to the Buckingham Road, and the staff quarters and officers’ mess were also nearby.”

The former RAF Bicester site is the most complete example of an RAF air base dating back to the period between the wars and features bomb stores, pillboxes, shelters and trenches.

The mystery building does not appear on wartime RAF maps of the site but aerial photos show it had been built close to the fuel stores by December 1946.

The structure, measuring 4 x 4 metres, dates from between the late 1930s and the end of the Second World War and is now partly collapsed.

Clare Charlesworth, Heritage at Risk lead for Historic England in the South East, said: “

“It’s possible this shelter was partly buried and housed technical equipment, but we are appealing for information from the public to help us solve this puzzle.

“Once we know how it looked and what it was used for, we can determine the best way to conserve it for the future.”

Historic England has given Bicester Heritage a grant of £39,407 to restore a number of buildings and structures on the site.

Bicester Heritage, founded in 2013, has regenerated and restored over 70 per cent of the buildings at the 348-acre site.

It is now the home of over 30 specialist businesses, with a collective turnover of over £20m.

The 2014 movie about Second World War codebreaker Alan Turing, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, was filmed at the former air base.

To help email hq@bicesterheritage.co.uk