Bruce Crompton, host of Discovery UK's Combat Dealers and Amazing War Stories, invited several Maldon Military organisations to his annual Pilgrim Bandit BBQ - offering a unique chance to see his huge personal collection of unique WW2 equipment.

Bruce is patron for the Pilgrim Bandits Charity and has a working relationship with the locally based Essex HMVA.

Heybridge-based Pilgrim Bandit coordinator Shaun Morgan explained: "Bruce is a great supporter of military charities and equipment preservation for which we have both in the area, being an army veteran himself he is often out with Pilgrim Bandit CEO and former SAS warrant officer Matt Hellyer raising awareness of veteran treatment and support".

Pilgrim Bandits originally formed as an SAS charity but expanded to help all former military and also Emergency service personnel who have lost limbs or suffered major mental trauma.

Matt Hellyer added: "Some of our lads who've had serious injury in the battlefield have been brilliant mentors for Police and Fire staff who've faced major physical and mental trauma in the line of duty, we try to return confidence for people who risked their lives to save ours".

Former soldier, Shaun Morgan, broke his spine while serving in Africa with the British Army and is now the Pilgrim Bandit East of England coordinator.

Discussing the charity, he highlighted: "Maldon has a brilliant Veterans breakfast club for ex military to meet and chat.

"The Essex historic military vehicle association and Maldon council have a good relationship, involving veterans at multiple events through the year with Datum Brewery acting as a great meeting place. They go that extra mile to make veterans welcome."

Representatives from the Combined military services museum, Datum Attitude brewery and Essex HMVA were given a guided tour around Bruce's museum, seeing some very unique items ranging from the only WW2 bouncing bomb and trailer through to Hitlers toilet.

Bruce added: "The Maldon area has some brilliant local history, the town and Estuary has loads of historic connections with some great historians keeping it alive,

"You have the only working WW1 aerodrome at Stow Maries and obviously the Combined Services Museum displaying unique equipment including the only Cockleshell Heroes canoe, the original James Bond equipment and even Winston Churchill's Tommy gun.

" I cannot state enough how worthwhile a visit is".