A FORMER solider had a happy future in his sights when he proposed to his girlfriend in a tank.

Lee Taylor, 31, an ex-gunner in the Royal Tank Regiment, spent months planning the surprise proposal at Bovington Tank Museum.

Now a lorry driver, Mr Taylor had fooled his fiance, legal assistant Charlotte Perkins, 26, into thinking he would propose early next year.

Instead, he took her on a Challenger One tank ride at the museum and when it was her turn to look through the gun sight she saw a large banner in the distance which said 'marry me.'

She accepted and Mr Taylor placed a diamond ring on her finger.

Miss Perkins said she was totally shocked.

She said: "We have been camping this weekend and he has had to hide the ring the whole time.

"I had no idea he was going to propose.

"He told me to look through the gun sights but it was really dusty and the seat was too low so I couldn't really make out the sign.

"It was a great way to propose although I wouldn't want to spend too much more time in the tank, it's really small inside.

"After such a big gesture I wonder what he's got in store for the wedding.

"It will be wonderful, that's for sure - he's very romantic."

Mr Taylor said all the months of planning were well worth it after she said yes.

He said: "I was just hoping it would all go well.

"Originally I had thought about getting up on a tank and proposing but then this seemed like a better way to do it."

The couple, from Torquay, were presented with a bottle of champagne by museum officer Nick Wyness.

Mr Wyness said this was the first time a proposal like this had been made at the museum.

He said: "We have regular tank rides and demonstrations but never anything like this.

"The main problem was keeping the whole thing a secret."

Now the happy couple will be heading home, stopping off along the way to pick up a puppy, which they have already named Brinley.