Tank memorial's future uncertain

The tank stands in a seaside car park in the village of Torcross

Talks are to be held over the future of an American World War II tank whose tragic history has drawn visitors to a Devon beauty spot for 20 years.

More than 700 US servicemen died near Slapton in a bungled D-Day training operation in 1944.

Ken Small, affectionately known as the Tank Man, raised a Sherman tank from the sea as a memorial to the dead.

He died earlier this month aged 73 and it is uncertain who will now take responsibility for the tank's upkeep.

It has got to be maintained because otherwise it will become an eyesore Anthony Vale, District Councillor

Mr Small raised the Sherman tank, which now stands in a seaside car park in the village of Torcross, from the seabed in time for a ceremony to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the D-Day landings in 1984.

In 1944, the Allies used the beaches near Slapton to get ready for the D-Day landings, but it went badly wrong.

An estimated 749 American soldiers were killed when a fleet of German E-boats found out about the operation, known as Exercise Tiger, and torpedoed the vessels.

The disaster was kept a closely guarded secret during the war and little was published about it following the close of hostilities.

Ken Small pressed the US and British governments for a memorial

But in 1969, Mr Small walked along Slapton beach and discovered remains from the live practice exercises.

He pressed the US and British governments for a memorial to the casualties so that their story would become common knowledge.

Local district councillor Anthony Vale said: "It is a centre of interest, and it has got to be kept going - it has got to be maintained because otherwise it will become an eyesore.

"I would imagine it would be appropriate for either a group of people in Torcross or the parish council to take it on."

At Mr Small's funeral on Wednesday his body was carried to the tank, which had been decked in flowers and wreaths, before being buried on a hill overlooking Torcross.