New Zealand's High Commissioner was given the ride of his life at South Dorset's Tank Museum today.

The Hon. Russell Marshall was expecting a quiet visit to the world's biggest and best tank museum - but found himself riding in the turret of a WW2 Sherman Tank as it roared around the museum arena.

High Commissioner Marshall said; "I have done many things in my life - but there is little that compares to this!"

The Tank Museum holds the largest and most important collection of armoured fighting vehicles in the world, with over 160 tanks from over 26 countries on display.

The High Commissioner was treated to a guided tour by Museum Curator David Willey, where he was shown the first tank ever built - an invention partly devised by Winston Churchill in 1915.

"It is a hugely impressive collection, certainly a national treasure, and a place that more people should know about," he said.

The High Commissioner was interested to learn how the museum has recently submitted a major bid for lottery money to improve the conditions and interpretation of the exhibits. He discovered how another 150 tanks were currently stored out of sight in sheds due to the lack of available display space.

"I sincerely hope that the bid is successful and look forward to a time when the full collection can really be done justice," he said.

If successful, the bid will turn the Dorset Charity, whose development was encouraged by Rudyard Kipling and George V in the 1920's, into a fully modern, cutting edge military museum and visitor attraction.

The Hon. Russell Marshall added; "It is a credit to the staff and volunteers who have worked so hard to make the Museum what it is today. But they need a substantial cash injection to realise their vision of becoming an international attraction - a reputation they deserve."

The outcome of the bid is expected early in 2005.