THE man known to millions of TV viewers as Captain Slow got his hands on some serious metal at Bovington’s Tank Museum.

Top Gear’s James May was in Purbeck to film an advert for the popular attraction, which opens the doors to its new £16.5 million redevelopment on April 4.

The presenter donated his time for free and was quite at home in the turret of a Chieftain tank as he admired the 200 military vehicles on display at the Bovington-based museum.

He said: “I’ve been coming to the Tank Museum since I was about five.

“Back then it was just a load of tanks parked outside and all a bit rusty.

“It’s changed a lot since then. It’s become quite posh for a tank museum. It’s refurbished, with a new building, more tanks an more interactive stuff, and as a fan of old machines I think it’s really good, well worth a look.”

The focus of the advert is the museum’s new exhibition, The Tank Story, which chronicles the story of the military vehicle from its first use during World War One to the present day.

Museum director Richard Smith said: “We are home to a world-class collection of military vehicles but we are also a registered charity.

“That’s why we were thrilled when James agreed to donate his time so generously and help us shout about the completion of the project.

“It’s great to know that such a prestigious figure in British motoring believes in our determination to preserve and exhibit some of the most amazing vehicles in the world.”