A TANK from The Tank Museum’s collection is featured in Sir Sam Mendes’ new award-winning First World War film epic 1917.

The film, released yesterday, features the Bovington attraction's Mark II tank. However the machine didn't even leave the museum – it was digitally scanned so it could be CGI rendered for the film.

It joins the lengthening list of vehicles in the The Tank Museum’s collection that have been used in films.

1917 documents the journey of two young soldiers who venture across enemy lines to deliver a message that could save hundreds of lives. It is based on a story told to Sir Sam by his grandfather.

It picked up two of the biggest awards at the Golden Globes (best picture – drama and best director), is nominated for nine BAFTAs and could also be successful at the forthcoming Oscars.

In a recent interview, Sir Sam said “The First World War starts with horses and carriages, and ends with tanks.

“So it’s the moment where you could argue modern war begins.”

The writer and director has previous experience of First World War tanks at the museum when – in 2000 he brought the cast of the Donmar Theatre’s production of ‘To the Green Fields and Beyond’ to the attraction to experience the true confines of a WW1 tank.

The Tank Museum’s Curator David Willey said “The ongoing success of film production in Britain is centred on the outstanding directors and technicians based here – but also on the UK’s amazing heritage that can support the industry.

“The Tank Museum has been and will continue to be an outstanding resource for filmmakers. We are delighted to be able to assist the makers of 1917.”

The tank is on display in the museum’s Tank Story Hall.

Other exhibits from the collection have been used in films, including the 2014 Hollywood blockbuster Fury starring Brad Pitt. The movie cast two of museum’s exhibits: the world’s only working Tiger 1 tank and the eponymous Fury Sherman M4 tank, in a tale of overwhelming odds deep behind enemy lines in the last days of the Second World War.

A popular exhibition about the movie and the roles of the tanks was staged at the museum to coincide witht the launch of the film.