WITH a week to go until Bournemouth Wheels Festival, organisers have announced that members of the British Army will be out in force across the weekend, displaying a wide range of vehicles and equipment.

Continuing their support of the what organisers say is the UK’s biggest free family wheels-themed festival, the Army will be rolling into the Military and Desert Driving Arena, east of Boscombe Pier, for all three days of the event, which runs from Friday, May 29, until Sunday, May 31.

Major Richard Leadbeater said: “The Army are pleased to continue to support the Bournemouth Wheels Festival and for 2015 we will bring a bigger presence to the Military and Desert Driving Arena.

“People coming to the Wheels Festival will be able to see a selection of the huge range of vehicles and equipment that the Army use, speak to members of the armed forces about what life is like as either a Regular or Reserve soldier and, for those interested, discuss the range of career opportunities that are available on a full and part time basis.”

Vehicles on display will include the Challenger 2 main battle tank and AS90 self-propelled gun, as well as protected patrol vehicles such as the Jackal, Warthog and Scimitar.

During Saturday and Sunday, instructors from the Armour School will be putting the Jackal and Warthog through their paces in the Desert Driving Arena, showing the versatility of these vehicles.

Local units attending will include the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, a Challenger Tank equipped Reserve Unit, the Rifles, the largest Infantry Regiment in the British Army, and members of the Army’s Reserve Maritime Regiment, which is based across the South and South West.

Festival-goers can also expect to see Army trucks, a 105mm light gun and a Stormer air defence missile platform amongst the equipment on display.