Shoppers in Melksham were treated to an unusual sight as a tank made a journey through Melksham on February 20 as a birthday treat for a passenger.

Ian Cleverley, from Hilperton, was celebrating his 60th birthday and his siblings had arranged a secret ride for the military enthusiast. Sister Maggie Ledbury, said: “When he was 50 we arranged for him to fly in a Tiger Moth, so we thought ‘what are we going to do?’. He’s such a lovely chap, you’ve only got to say ‘can you do this for me’ and he’ll be there like a shot.

“We thought he’d like a ride in a tank, so my sister looked on the internet and they wanted lots of money and you had to travel. I found out about a Melksham man who had a tank and I asked him if he would mind giving him a ride and he said yes.”

Mr Cleverley rode in the commander’s turret on the trip.Owner Dave Matthews took the Abbot self-propelled gun from The Foresters pub on Sandridge Road through town to Beanacre Road and back.

Mr Cleverley, a former bandsaw operator at G-Plan, said: “It was a lovely surprise, I had no idea at all. It was great, I was in the commander’s turret and I could see everything. People were astonished, I had a few waves. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.

“It was a really good day. I’d like to say thank you to my sisters, I think I’ve got the best brother and sisters in the world.

“I’ll remember that day for the rest of my life.”

In the evening Mr Cleverley’s family threw a birthday party for him at The Farmhouse Inn in Southwick.

Mrs Ledbury added: “It was a fantastic day, he didn’t want to go home, he wanted to try and make it last a bit longer.”

After the trips in a tank and a Tiger Moth, his sisters are now scratching their heads to come up with something for a 70th birthday treat.

Mrs Ledbury said: “Well it’s trains, planes and automobiles isn’t it, so we might have to find him a steam train somewhere.”