DON'T panic Mr Mainwaring - the van which features in the legendary sitcom Dad's Army as Corporal Jones's butcher's wagon has been given a new lease of life.

Just in time for the release of the new Dad's Army movie, a platoon of Dagenham-based Ford apprentices, under the command of Ford's heritage vehicle technicians, have helped repair the running gear of Jack Jones's famous 1935 Ford BB van.

The work was carried out in the same building at Dagenham that the vehicle would have left the plant more than 80 years ago.

The original Dad's Army television series ran from 1968 to 1977, and the van, registration BUC 852, made its screen debut on September 11 1969 in the first colour episode of the TV series.

This month it appears in the big-screen version of Dad's Army with stars including Sir Tom Courtenay, Toby Jones, Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Sir Michael Gambon.

The van, belonging to local butcher and home guardsman, Jack Jones, is known for its role as a support vehicle for the Walmington-on-Sea branch of the Home Guard. It is now owned by the Dad's Army Museum in Thetford, Norfolk.

Although it has undertaken extensive cosmetic restoration, Ford, together with a team of its apprentices, was tasked with returning it to operational duty. This included a full engine rebuild, replacement clutch, and new wiring looms.

The Ford BB truck was among the first commercial vehicles produced at the Ford Dagenham site, which started production in 1931.

The mechanical repairs were carried out in one of Dagenham's original buildings, which remains in use today as Ford's heritage workshop.

Stuart Wright from the Dad's Army Museum in Thetford, said: "This vehicle has a special place in British entertainment history, and is enjoyed by the many visitors to the Dad's Army museum. It's fantastic to see the van operational again and we hope it will capture the imagination of the younger visitors less familiar with Dad's Army, as well as triggering happy memories for the older generations."

Paul Neighbour, Ford Dagenham engine plant manager, said: "It has been wonderful to see the van back at Dagenham after all these years, and we're delighted that our apprentices have had the opportunity to get involved with getting such an iconic vehicle back on the road."