IT’S the definition of versatile.

This vehicle, conceived by Purbeck brothers Jez and Duncan Hermer, is certainly true to its name.

The Cameleon is being aimed at the emergency services, defence industry and commercial companies and can be used for anything from a military checkpoint to a mobile treatment room.

The vehicle supports a pod which can be placed on the ground – and retrieved again – in minutes.

It can be used to carry people, water, fuel, accommodation and much more.

Jez came up with the idea a year ago and the first models came off the production line in September.

He said: “We initially built it for the defence market, but now we have a lot of interest from the emergency sector.

“The aim was to solve some of the problems that we knew existed from our experience.

“We started playing around with some of the designs and we’ve got demonstrations for fire and ambulance services across the country.”

Duncan, who set up a chain of health clubs before going into business with his brother, added: “We’ve been taken by surprise really with the interest from the emergency sector.”

Jez said humanitarian organisations, oil exploration companies and tree surgeons were just some of those who had expressed an interest.

The former Royal Marine, who is also a director at Monkey World, said: “I thought the vehicle that’s lacking was one with true multi-role capability. What I wanted was a vehicle which would be truly modular.

“You can have 10 cabs but, say, 20 pods, which makes for big cost savings.”

He said that had become a major selling point for the vehicle in tough economic times.

The brothers, who set up Ovik Solutions, the company behind the Cameleon, three years ago, are hoping to bag their first firm order soon.

Each vehicle will cost no more than £80,000 – but the price depends heavily on individual requirements.

The design work has been carried out at Holton Heath and the Cameleons built so far rolled off the production line in Dover, but the hope is to bring production to Purbeck.