WORKMEN had to use dynamite to shift a 7ft metal vault door they stumbled upon while constructing a housing development.

While working on Bowey Homes' latest development in Washington Village, on Wearside, builders found a vault with a metal door in the former offices of Washington Urban District Council.

They had to use explosives to get through the door, which was encased in metal and filled with six inches of concrete, to make way for work on luxury apartments.

Site manager Kevin Chatterton said: "The vault was a magnificent sight.

"It was well built and anything stored in there would have been safe as houses.

"We needed to remove it to make way for one of the apartments.

"But the building interior is quite spectacular, and once restored, will be returned to its former glory."

Bowey is building 17 houses in the council offices' grounds and refurbishing the main building to accommodate eight, two-bedroomed apartments.

Each apartment will be different, and one will incorporate the old courtroom as a lounge.