A tank that rolled its way into the history books will once more take to its tracks - exactly 75 years after it was captured from the German army during the Second World War.

The Tiger 131 will run around the arena at the Tank Museum in Bovington on Saturday, April 28, giving visitors the chance to glimpse in action the world's sole working example of a Tiger I tank.

Museum curator David Willey said a significant amount of work went into keeping the Tiger running, as the tank is extremely fragile and liable to faults.

During the war, Mr Willey said, the Tiger needed 10 hours of maintenance for every hour it ran - now it takes museum staff and engineers a laborious 200 hours.

The Tiger was a formidable weapon unleashed by the Nazis at a time when tank warfare was in its infancy. As such, the capture of the Tiger 131 by Allied Forces in Tunisia in 1943 was a significant coup, allowing the Allies to understand in greater details the workings and the threat of the armoured vehicle.

The capture itself was fortuitous - an Allied Churchill tank struck the Tiger with a lucky shot that jammed its turret, prompting the crew to flee and leave the tank in the hands of their enemies.

Such was its importance that Prime Minister Winston Churchill and King George VI flew to North Africa to be pictured with it.

It arrived at the Tank Museum in 1951, where in 1987 staff decided to restore it to running order.

A decade was spent overhauling the machine and in 1998 a £96,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund helped complete the task.

In 2001 it was thought the job was completed, but the engine blew up and did not get going again until 2003.

Curator Mr Willey said: “To have this tank working after 75 years is testament to the skill, knowledge and dedication of our staff.

“For the public to be able to see and hear this tank operating is really remarkable. Whenever we run the tank it attracts huge numbers.

“This 75th anniversary is important, not least because the number of veterans who might have seen one of these in action is now dwindling to a very small number.

“It is pleasing however that many young people are interested and want to learn about the war.

“On this special anniversary we also have the Germans’ current battle tank – a Leopard II – which will be driving around so visitors will be able to compare the two.”

To book tickets for Tiger Day call the museum or buy online.