PEOPLE have the chance to get up close and personal with military vehicles at a Portland attraction this weekend. 

The award-winning Castletown D-Day Centre is holding its popular Military Vehicles weekend on Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6.

Visitors will be able to see several vehicles not on regular display such as the DUKW amphibious vehicle and the M8 Scout car.

The remote-controlled tanks are also back by popular demand - an activity that has become a firm favourite for those who have attended the D-Day Centre’s previous events.

As a special part of the proceedings, the Castletown D-Day Centre has named its M16 half-track personnel carrier ‘Poppy’ in tribute to community stalwart Poppy Butcher.

Poppy is well-known in Weymouth and Portland for her long-standing enagement as a fundraiser and event organiser for armed forces charities.

In a close link with the Castletown D-Day Centre, Poppy was a teenager when she worked for the Royal Navy on Portland during the time of D-Day in June 1944.

The Vehicles Weekend will be taking place on Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6 from 10am to 4pm.

Admission to the Vehicles Weekend event is included in the standard entry fee - booking is advised but not essential.

Manager of the Castletown D-Day Centre, Shaun Souster, said: "Our Vehicles Weekend event is great fun and we always get a great turnout. There are so many things to see and do over the two days, including my own personal favourite, the RC tanks!

"Whether you are a keen military history buff or just perhaps looking for a wholesome summer holiday activity for the whole family, there is something for everyone at the Castletown D-Day Centre."

The Castletown D-day Centre is an authentic recreation of a busy wartime dockyard where thousands of American troops departed for the Nazi-occupied beaches of France.

The D-Day Centre includes an impressive array of authentic WW2 artefacts and vehicles, including a full-size replica Spitfire, a Bofors 40mm gun and even a restored Sherman tank, plus interactive audio-visual displays, tank tours and a D-Day bunker.

As a Community Interest Company, the Castletown D-Day Centre relies on support from visitor admissions and is part of Castletown Regeneration Project spearheaded by Agincare Founder and Chairman Derek Luckhurst.

For the latest news and updates about the Castletown D-Day Centre, go to the Facebook page @castletownddaycentre