Army veterans are being offered the chance to go out with a bang after a military enthusiast built a funeral hearse out of an old tank.

Nick Mead, 54, from Helmdon, Northamptonshire, spent six months converting the shell of a FV432 armoured personnel carrier into a funeral car in order to give servicemen and women the perfect send-off.

After spending £3,000 refurbishing the vehicle with armoured glass and installing the interior of a Ford Granada Cardinal hearse, the father-of-two joined forces with a funeral director to offer the tank to families of war veterans and military enthusiasts for their loved ones.

Army veterans are being offered the chance to go out with a bang after a military enthusiast built this funeral hearse out of an old tank

Families are able to book the converted FV432 armoured personnel carrier to carry their departed loved ones instead of the usual hearse

'I think it will appeal not only to servicemen and women but to tank enthusiasts - as well as extroverts,' said Mr Mead.

'It is an iconic British Army vehicle which has seen service in Afghanistan and Iraq.

'We would like to think any army veteran would be honoured to go to his funeral in such a magnificent tank.'

Nick Mead, 54, (left) from Helmdon, Northamptonshire, spent six months converting the shell of a FV432 armoured personnel carrier into a funeral car. Also pictured is his colleague Todd Chamberlain

Mr Mead thinks his creation will appeal to the families of servicemen and woman as well as tank enthusiasts

Mr Mead began creating the 'tankhearse' three years ago because he knew he wanted his own final trip to be in a tank.

But when he discovered his tank-driving instructor Graham Collins was critically ill with cancer he sped up the project so it would be finished in time for the 70-year-old's funeral.

'I cracked on with it and I've never known a project come together so quickly,' he said.

'The most important thing was for his final trip to be in a tank. I hope I did the old boy proud.

Mr Mead spent £3,000 refurbishing the old vehicle with armoured glass and installing the interior of a Ford Granada Cardinal hearse

Mr Mead began creating the 'tankhearse' three years ago because he knew he wanted his own final trip to be in a tank

Mr Mead is pictured working on the old tank to transform it into a fitting vehicle in which veterans can take their final journey

The FV432 armoured personnel carrier was first used by the British Army in the 1960s for moving troops on the battlefield. Pictured is Mr Chamberlain cleaning the tank hearse

'The funeral was rammed and there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Graham was a Sean Connery figure, a real hit with the ladies.'

Mr Mead's company Tanks-A-Lot has performed six funerals with the vehicle, which costs £1,500 to hire, plus the cost of haulage to the location.

The former butcher who sold the family shop to work with tanks 20 years ago, even sent his mother, Ivy, off in his creation when she died aged 90 of natural causes.

When Mr Mead discovered his tank-driving instructor Graham Collins (left) was critically ill with cancer he sped up the project so it would be finished in time for the 70-year-old's funeral (right)

Mr Mead said it was important to him that the tank be used for Mr Collins's funeral (pictured)

Mr Mead said Mr Collins's funeral was packed with friends and family wanting to pay their respects, and there 'wasn't a dry eye in the house'

He said: 'I'm not sure if she was a big fan of tanks.

'But your mum's always a fan of you isn't she? So we had a go and it was perfect.'

The FV432 armoured personnel carrier was first used by the British Army in the 1960s for moving troops on the battlefield.

The model has seen service in the harsh environments of both Afghanistan and Iraq.

At their peak, in the 1980s, more than 2,500 FV432s were in use by the Army, but that number has now fallen to 1,500 as updated carriers replace older vehicles.

Second hand models are popular with enthusiasts due to their relative low cost, compared to other military vehicles.

Funeral manager Simon Fisher, from Midcounties Co-operative Funeralcare which has teamed up with Tanks-A-Lot, said: 'We aim to take all requests into account and I've no doubt that Tankhearse will appeal to tank enthusiasts who want to make a last trip in one of the iconic vehicles they love so much.'

The father-of-two joined forces with a funeral director to offer the tank to families of war veterans and military enthusiasts for their loved ones