BOVINGTON's world-renowned tank museum has been awarded a £100,000 cash boost to help fund a £16 million development project.

And the money has already been earmarked for displays in the museum's Discovery Centre - a completely new exhibition to be created within the existing buildings.

Tank museum spokesman Nik Wyness said: "This new exhibition will look at the tank from a thematic perspective, rather than the pure chronology you will find in the museum today."

He added: "This will vastly improve the museum experience for all our visitors, as it will broaden our narrative and allow them to better understand our subject - not to mention provide modern and exciting displays for everyone to enjoy."

The money has been provided jointly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Wolfson Foundation.

It is a slice of grants totalling £4 million handed out to 43 museums and galleries across the country including the Imperial War Museum and the British Museum.

Culture minister Margaret Hodge said: "This year's grants go to an imaginative array of projects in national institutions, university collections and well-loved local museums and galleries. This funding will give visitors the best possible experience of some wonderful collections."

Bovington is currently undergoing major refurbishment, named At Close Quarters, which includes building a new 5,000 square metre display hall in the shape of a quarter circle and enhancing the current exhibitions. It should be completed by May 2009.

A Heritage Lottery Fund grant has provided the bulk of the sponsorship needed.