The Dragon of the Somme was a horrifying flamethrower which incinerated hundreds of German soldiers in the First World War.

Buried for nearly a century, it was unearthed by Sappers from the Royal School of Military Engineering last summer.

Now it will feature in a Time Team programme tonight on Channel 4 that will include the reconstruction and firing one last time of the weapon.

Officially called the Livens Flame Projector after its inventor, Capt William Livens, it was conceived and designed in his rooms overlooking the parade ground at Brompton Barracks.

Don't miss tomorrow's Medway Messenger for a colourful feature on how and why the most terrifying weapon conceived by a Royal Engineer was made, lost and then test-fired at Lodge Hill 95 years later.