THE most explosive weekend of the year is set to take place in Dorset this weekend.

Two action-packed days of steel, firepower and explosions and some of the toughest vehicles on the planet will be bursting into life at The Tank Museum in Bovington for the return of Tankfest.

The full-to-bursting schedule for Tankfest 2014, which runs on Saturday and Sunday, features a host of military displays covering every era of armoured vehicle combat from a Second World War mock battle with rare examples of Allied and Axis vehicles, to a modern combat demonstration showing how the Royal Armoured Corps fights in the 21st Century.

Look out for Matilda 1, Tiger 131, Valentine DD, Kettenkrad, Panzer III, Comet, and the newly arrived Buffel and M110, among others. 2014 sees the 70th anniversary of this daring attempt by the Allies to dramatically shorten the Second World War, by capturing key river bridges in Holland thus allowing an attack straight into the industrial heart of Germany, the Ruhr.

The Tank Museum will commemorate this historic struggle between Allied airborne and ground forces and their German enemy in September 1944, with a grand finale battle at Tankfest.

Several of the exhibits from that period will be taking part, including the famous Tiger 131 tank.

Joining the grand finale battle will be a legendary figher plane, Jumpin Jacques, a North American P-51 Mustang. This original Second World War plane served in the last years of the war and still bears her battle scars.

This year also sees the inaugural Bovington Tank Pull Challenge Cup Teams from The Royal Wessex Yeomanry and The Royal Marines go head to head pulling an armoured fighting vehicle over a set distance in the Kuwait Arena.

The winner will be the best aggregate time over the two days of Tankfest .

The triumphant cup holder will take on challengers from The Armed Services in 2015.

For the first time at Tankfest “The Garrison” Royal Artillery re-enactors will be demonstrating a battery of four 25 pounder artillery guns including live firing.

There will be four 25 pounders and their supporting vehicles including a compliment of approximately 40 personnel.

The Garrison will be based in the Living History area but demonstrating their fire power in The Kuwait Arena.

They will also be playing their part in our Grand Finale Battle when their destructive fire power will be used to support the British Armour.

On Sunday's Tankfest, The Tank Museum welcomes The Royal Signals motorcycle display team The White Helmets.

Based at Blandford, The White Helmets are in demand all over the country so we are delighted that they will be displaying their exciting and skilful motorcycle routines in The Kuwait Arena.

As well as thunderous roars coming from the outdoor arena, there will also be a hive of activity in and around the museum itself.