From once protecting frightened residents, a war shelter in St Ubaldeska Square, Paola has become an exciting place for people to visit after it was handed over to a local heritage organisation to be opened to the public.

In a ceremony last week, the maze of underground tunnels was signed over by the Land Parliamentary Secretariat to Fondazzjoni Wirt Paola.

Paved over and forgotten after the war, the shelter was rediscovered during the embellishment works in the square late last year.

That project had focused on turning most of the car park opposite the church into a pedestrian area complete with benches and a fountain. It has now been boosted by the presence of the shelter.

Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi encouraged the school teachers present at the ceremony to continue educating students about the importance of heritage.

"While children and their parents used to run into the shelter to protect themselves from enemy attacks, today the site has been embellished and opened for family relaxation," he said.