A PART-TIME soldier from Weymouth was on hand when a top Dorset attraction welcomed royalty.

Marcus Cribb, 21, is an Officer Cadet in the Royal Wessex Yeomanry and also works at The Tank Museum at Bovington as a warden.

When HRH The Earl of Wessex, visited the museum to mark the 40th anniversary of the Dorset-based Territ-orial Army regiment of which he is honorary Colonel, Mr Cribb showed him round.

Prince Edward took great interest in the vehicles as well as checking out the new Battlegroup Afghanistan exhibition which tells the story of the Royal Armoured Corps’ experiences on the frontline.

Mr Cribb said: “The Prince was fascinated by our World War Two vehicles, and the vehicles that have been used by the Royal Wessex Yeo-manry and its antecedents, such as the Valentine, Sher-man and the Stuart.

“This was his first visit to The Tank Museum. He was really enthusiastic and had a surprisingly impressive technical knowledge.”

The Royal Wessex Yeomanry was formed in 1971 from an amalgamation of The Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, The Royal Gloucester Hussars and the Royal Devon Yeomanry. It is based at the Armour Centre in Bovington.

Prince Edward’s visit came after it was announced the museum has passed the first stage application for £2.7m from the Heritage Lottery Fund for a new Vehicle Conservation Centre.

The main feature will be a 40,000sq ft building housing up to 120 vehicles.

HLF Trustees have granted the museum £150,000 to support the development of detailed plans.

The museum has begun a fundraising campaign to raise £2.7m to match the HLF funding. Visit tankmuseum.org