An old soldier has ended 60 years of nightmares after getting back in a tank for the first time since he was blown up in one during an attack that killed the rest of the crew.

Second World War veteran Ray "Flash" Gordon, now 83, was terribly burned after his Churchill tank took a direct hit in Normandy 62 years ago.

He has been tortured since by dreams in which he hears the screams of his trapped pals as they burn to death.

But now the humble former wireless operator, of East Grinstead, believes he will once again sleep soundly at night after getting back in one of the few remaining working Churchill tanks.

The last time he had been in one, on July 10, 1944, it was hit by an 88mm shell from a fearsome German Tiger tank.

Mr Gordon was forced to jump free while on fire, unable to help the rest of the men, whose desperate cries he heard.

The crew of Iceni, as the tank wascalled, were some of the many allied casualties at the Battle for Hill 112.

With his friend Cyril "Smudge" Smith, a fellow veteran from the 9th Royal Tank Regiment, Mr Gordon rolled back the years and took the Churchill out for a spin.

He believes the process of getting back in the vehicle at Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset has finally put his demons to rest.

Mr Gordon was disfigured and suffered third-degree burns. He returned home where he underwent plastic surgery and dozens of operations.

He said: "We were sent on July 10 to take Hill 112 - it was called that because it was 112ft high.

"The Germans said that whoever controlled Hill 112, controlled Normandy.

"The action started at 5.30am and was all over by 9.30am by which time 14 of our 18 tanks were out of action.

"I only found this out later because my tank was one that was taken out. Just before we were hit I could hear the knock, knock, knock' on the sides from the small arms fire as we were being hit.

"Churchills had a crew of five but we had six on board that morning because we had picked up a man who had come across the grass looking dazed.

"He was called Ted Spight and must have been blown out of his own tank.

"We opened a pannier door and laid him on the driver's tool box. We were hit by an 88mm shell and I just recall the instant heat; it was very hot, scalding hot, and dry.

"And I remember sitting on my box of ammunition and thinking: I'd really better go home now.' I don't know why I remember that.

"I could open my cupola flap to get out of the turret but my commander Jock Smith couldn't open his because a sighting vane had been blown over on to it.

"I tried to move a bag of empty cartridges so that Jock could get over to my side to get out but I couldn't move it.

"And if Jock couldn't get out, his gunner Dickie, below him, couldn't get out. And the driver and co-driver couldn't get out either. The turret had turned slightly and that blocked their flaps from opening. I opened my flap and I got out on to the tracks then on to the floor.

"I turned and saw a hole in the side of the tank the size of a small plate - it was halfway along on the side of the turret.

"As I got out I could hear the screams of those trapped and burning inside. You don't forget that, you don't. I saw flames and heard the ammunition exploding.

"In the hospital they asked me if I had nightmares and I didn't. But they did start. I would wake up in a cold sweat after remembering what happened and the next day I wouldn't be very good.

Then about seven years ago I had one whisky too many after one of these nightmares and broke down and for the first time in my life spoke about what had happened.

"Riding in the Churchill is the final thing in the healing process and I don't think I'll have any more nightmares now I've done it."