He has decided Christmas isn't that bad after all

Bunker auction spokesman

On leaving the bunker near Brentwood, said: "It was great but I was dying for a pint and the idea of spending another week was too much."

Mr Wood beat 50 other people on the auction on bid-up.tv, to land the stay at the decommissioned cold war bunker.

A spokesman from the auctioneers told BBC News Online that Mr Wood had been in fairly good spirits when he left.

"He came out because he found himself a bit lonesome.

"Four days in a bunker was difficult. It made him feel differently about spending Christmas with his family.

"He said he was going for a pint with his dad and having Christmas with his family.

"He just hadn't really realised how difficult it would be.

'Prison sentence'

"He has decided Christmas isn't that bad after all."

Mr Wood had said he bid for the bunker because he was trying to avoid the anti-climax of Christmas.

"Do you ever get that feeling on Boxing Day thinking 'that was a bit of a let down' - that is what I am trying to avoid," he said last week.

But bunker owner Michael Parrish had warned the spell underground could feel more like a prison sentence.

Kelvedon Hatch is 30 metres underground and protected against atomic and biological attack by 10ft-thick reinforced concrete walls and blast doors made from tank metal.

It was designed for up to 600 military and civilian personnel to administer the country during and after a major nuclear strike.

It even had a bedroom for the prime minister, but no shower and government-issue toilet roll which says "use both sides".

Kelvedon Hatch is open most of the year for tourists.