Centurion is a car crusher at tank festival

A family car is no match for a mighty 50-ton Centurion tank.

The Centurion simply rolled over the car in a demonstration of the formidable fighting power of these war machines at the Norfolk Tank Museum’s Armourfest last weekend.

The two-day display at the museum’s Forncett St Peter base was its most successful so far - an even included a Run What You Bring! invitation to military enthusiasts to test their vehicles over an assault course.

The visiting vehicles included a Sherman tank which took part in the Brad Pit film Fury, and also on display was the museum’s own Deborah, the First World War replica from Guy Martin’s Build A Tank television programme.

Deborah, a Mk 1V tank, was built at the museum for the Channel 4 series and Forncett is now her permanent home. She was accompanied in Sunday’s demonstrations by First World War re-enactors from the Royal Norfolk Living History group.

The festival also included a military vehicle cavalcade, have-a-go archery and a 1940s’ jive and jitterbug hangar dance.

Museum director Stephen Machaye said: “It was absolutely amazing to see members of the public and military enthusiasts come together - and the weather held out too.

“The atmosphere was buzzing and it was a pleasure to see people enjoying the tank demonstrations.

“For most, it’s a rarity to witness tanks running around - it’s something the public want to see. It could have been the tank their father or grandfather could have been driving if they had served.

“Armourfest has become one of the leading military events in East Anglia. We had 1,800 people visit this year, which is our sixth. It’s a truly unique event and its set to get bigger and better.”

* More pictures in today's Diss Express