A CHEESE artist has created a war tank out of west Dorset cheddar to commemorate a First World War battle.

Tanys Pullin, creative consultant at Litton Cheney-based producers Ford Farm, has crafted another masterpiece - described as 'absolutely spectacular'.

Tanys has already served up a celebration cake for Mary Berry at the Wells Literary Festival last month, a chocolate cheese wedding cake as well as a crown sculpture carved from a half tonne piece of cheddar. She has established a widespread reputation in the South West for carving celebration cakes made from Ford Farm cheese.

Now Tanys has created a military Mark IV tank out of different varieties of cheddar made at Ford Farm, on behalf of the Royal Tank Regiment, based in Salisbury.

Having the Tank Museum at Bovington on Ford Farm's doorstep was a complete coincidence, but extremely helpful for Tanys.

She said: "When you are copying a structure, it’s really useful to see it in 3D rather than having to work from a flat photograph."

The cake was commissioned by Captain Steven Bee to honour his regiment’s most celebrated battle, the Battle of Cambrai. Captain Bee described the tasty creation as 'really memorable'.

The cheesy creation was served at a dinner held last week, on the eve of the Battle of Cambrai nearly 100 years ago, at the officers’ mess in Winterbourne Gunner.

Officers mess dinners are a regular feature of this regiment and the military and are designed to educate the current members about its history as well as providing an opportunity to remember and honour their forebears.

Captain Bee said: "We wanted to do something a bit different to mark this occasion and to make it special for the 25 who attended.

"The cake looked absolutely spectacular and provided a really memorable and novel way to enjoy the West Country cheese course."

For more information about Ford Farm and celebration cakes available, please visit fordfarm.com