The 1950s unit and surrounding land was acquired by the highest eBay bidder when the auction closed on Sunday night.

The item attracted widespread interest and a total of 42 bids.

The seller would not disclose the exact location of the bunker in respect of the farmer whose land it is on but described it as being "in an elevated position with panoramic views over the Derbyshire Dales".

The bunker was a master monitoring post in a network of units throughout the country built by the Royal Observer Corps amid the threat of nuclear attack during the Cold War.

After opening in 1959, it was staffed and fully operational until 1991 when it was decommissioned following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The seller, identified only by their eBay user name, 'chantburgess', said it was a "rare opportunity to acquire a piece of Cold War history", adding: "It is in a perfect location on farmland and offers the freedom of having your own land and bunker, but with the security of being on private land which is fenced and securely gated.

"The bunker can continue to be used as limited living accommodation for short periods or adventure holidays."

The unit is accessed via a metal hatch and shaft with a 15ft ladder leading down to two rooms - one for the chemical toilet, the other a large monitoring room.

It is fitted with a BT phone line, two ventilation shafts and much of its original equipment. There are jerry cans, a rope for hauling heavy items up the shaft, sump grill and sump pump, desk, chair, siren box, enamel bucket, and a cupboard with some domestic items.

The site is approximately 50ft x 50ft with an additional 16ft x 16ft piece of land, which was the original site of the ROC hut during the war years, attached.