AN exhibition bringing together every member of the fearsome Second World War Tiger Tank family has been extended.

Opened in April last year, the Tiger Tank Collection at Bovington Tank Museum has proved so popular museum bosses have decided to keep it in place for another year.

The German World War II tanks struck fear into Allied soldiers, but only a few examples remain today.

Tank Museum marketing head Nik Wyness said: "Visitors have come from around the world to see this unique display.

"Since the exhibition opened, the museum has enjoyed record visitor numbers.

"Our Tiger Day events alone have brought hundreds of new visitors to Dorset from as far away as the USA and Australia."

Originally scheduled to run until autumn, this year, the display has now been extended until autumn 2019.

The exhibition features the museum's Tiger I, two King Tigers, Jagdtiger and an Elefant tank on international loan – which is on public display in Europe for the first time since it was captured in 1944.

The Elefant has been lent to The Tank Museum by US Army Ordnance Training and Heritage Center at Fort Lee, Virginia, by The United States Army Center of Military History and is one of just two surviving examples of the 91 Elefants that saw service with German forces.

One tiger unable to be present – the Sturmtiger – has been represented using virtual technology, supplied by software developer and exhibition sponsor Wargaming.

A museum spokesman added: "With veteran stories, supporting artefacts, unseen imagery and the stories unique to the vehicles on display, the exhibition showcases the museum’s collection of what were arguably the most feared and famous tanks of the Second World War."