Thousands of people flocked to see one of the world’s most famous tanks in action on Saturday.

Tiger Day VIII saw 4,500 gather at the Tank Museum for the event dedicated entirely to the Tiger 131.

The Tiger 131 is the only running German Tiger 1 tank in the world and featured in the film Fury starring Brad Pitt.

It was the last chance this year for tank fans to see the Tiger 131 make an appearance in the arena.

The Tiger 131 runs only twice a year, making appearances on Tiger Day in April and September and always attracts huge crowds.

Spectators at the sold-out event had the rare chance to see the fearsome machine in action.

A museum spokesperson said: “The highlight of the day was a 45-minute display which saw Tiger 131 take to the arena alongside its Axis and Allied contemporaries, including the very Sherman tank which played the ‘Fury’ itself in the film.”

“It was also the perfect opportunity for Tiger fans to visit The Tank Museum’s remarkable new exhibition, ‘The Tiger Collection – the Tanks, the Terror and the Truth’.

“Opened in April, every member of the famous Tiger tank family has been brought together for the first time ever.”

Tiger 131 was captured intact by the allies during fierce fighting in the Tunisian desert in 1943.

A lucky shot had wedged itself in the turret mechanism so it couldn’t turn, and the crew had bailed out and run.

Such was the importance of the capture that, when visiting North Africa, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and King George VI went to be pictured with it.