Piccadilly Gardens, considered by many to be at the very heart Manchester, is bounded by air raid shelters in this image from the Second World War. The city was heavily bombed in the Christmas Blitz of 1940 and continued to be an enemy target for some time. As Piccadilly Gardens is a major transport interchange and one of the city’s busiest public places, large numbers of shelters were erected for public use. A large reservoir was also created to provide fire-fighters with water in the aftermath of raids. Manchester City Police photographers worked throughout the war, including the infamous Christmas Blitz of 1940, recording bomb damage, photographing casualties and documenting the work of the emergency services and armed forces. View another image of the same scene. The force’s wartime images, preserved in a series of bound albums, have remained largely unseen since the end of the war. They now form part of the collection of the Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archive and provide a fascinating look at life during one of the most difficult periods in the history of the city and region. Vist Manchester City Police World War 2 Collection to view more of these historic images. For more information please follow Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archives. To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk You should call 101, the new national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response. Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life. You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.