HISTORIC ex-military vehicles will head to Normandy from Poole to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

More than 1,000 members of the Military Vehicle Trust will head to France from ports along the south coast, including Poole.

The convoy will include motorcycles, jeeps, command cars, ambulances, trucks, tracked vehicles and armour, paying their respects and commemorating fallen soldiers and veterans from the invasion.

On June 6, 1944, soldiers from the UK, US, Canada and many other countries invaded the beaches of Normandy by land, sea and air.

Operation Overlord saw five beaches targeted, codenamed Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword, with each beach set to host commemorative events and celebrations.

The official international ceremony will take place at Omaha beach, with heads of state, veterans and officials set to attend.

Members of the trust will have a full calendar of events to enjoy while in France between May 31 and June 10.

This includes the parade at Bayeux, Gold Beach Remembers at the Normandy Memorial and the National Event at Arromanches.

Many of the members of the trust who are not travelling to France will be attending events across the country to mark the anniversary.

Dorset played a vital role in the preparation of soldiers ahead of the landings.

Studland beach was selected for rehearsals, due to its resemblance to the beaches of Normandy, in Exercise Smash.

Bunkers and observation posts were built around the beach, with the British Army testing its amphibious tanks for the first time, the duplex-drive Valentine tank.

The exercise was watched by the-prime minister, Winston Churchill, King George VI and American general Eisenhower, from Fort Henry at Middle Beach, which can still be visited today.

The exercise took a tragic turn as the tanks were launched too far out from the shoreline and began taking on water after the weather turned.

Seven tanks sunk, killing six soldiers, with the wrecks of vehicles still lying on the seabed in Studland Bay, honoured as war graves.

The 80th anniversary of the exercise was marked by the National Trust in April.