It’s not every day you walk down a high street to see a homemade tank whizz by, belting out wartime songs.

But that’s what’s been happening in Sheerness thanks to fundraiser Tim Bell who has turned a second-hand mobility scooter into a mock military vehicle.

The 79-year-old has been a long-time supporter of the Kent Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance and the tank is his third eye-catching creation.

Previously, he designed a replica of Sheerness Clock Tower and a mini air ambulance helicopter as part of his efforts to attract people’s attention and maybe get them to donate a pound or two.

He has raised £50,000 for the charity.

Now he’s built a tank, by taking a mobility scooter and then building a chassis around it out of wood and plastic at his workshop in Scrapsgate Road, Minster.

It’s in its third incarnation - the latest version saw the addition of a confetti gun which sits on a spinning turret.

He said people enjoy his creations and the music he plays from them sees them dip into their pockets and donate to a good cause.

“The novelty works very well,” he said. “People seem to like my music and they seem to like the creations that I create – my helicopter, my army tank and my town clock.

“People seem to love the tank more than my helicopter.

“It’s been good fun and I’ve had a lot of support from various businesses which I’m truly thankful for.

“My family are also very supportive and have got used to my weird ways. People, 99% of the time, are very supportive as they seem to like the novelty of it.

“They seem to like the music I play which is nice music tracks and they come up to me and say ‘oh you made my day’.

“The way they put money in the buckets proves that they do like what I do because they are very generous.

“I wouldn’t be able to collect the vast amount of money that I’ve raised over the years for the air ambulance without these sort of novelties.”

He built the original tank to commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day in 2020 but he continues to roll out the vehicle to woo the crowds at carnivals and parades across the county.

His novelty approach to raising funds for the charity has seen him win the admiration of many Islanders.

He has been recognised with the Pride of the Island award and was also nominated for a Pride of Britain award as well.

The former electrical engineer has raised more than £50,000 in five years but has no plans to stop just yet.

He previously raised money for Cancer Research UK, with his bike which he wrapped lights around to take part in Island's lantern parade in 2017.