Watch: Armoured vehicle turns up at Peterlee Catholic Club with Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump onboard

The pair's dramatic arrival in the light reconnaissance vehicle – proudly sporting a North Korean flag – was unsurprisingly captured on video and quickly went viral on the internet.

However, anyone concerned at the leaking of a secret, but highly unlikely, location for top level diplomatic talks were soon relieved to find it was merely an elaborate fancy dress stunt.

For the former British Army Scimitar was driven by owner Rob Dove, of Easington Village, who drove two friends to the party as a favour.
Dale Laverick was dressed as Donald Trump, with his trademark red baseball cap, while Paul Harbord was made up as North Korea's 'Dear Leader', complete with characteristic hairdo. 

Mr Dove, a former tank commander with the Light Dragoons, said: “Both of them served with my father and I took them to the Catholic Club in Peterlee as a favour. When we arrived everyone loved it. A video of us went viral.”

Mr Harbord, of Peterlee, who manages a security company, said: “The football lads at the Peterlee Catholic Club (PCC) have an annual end-of-season fancy dress trip to Blackpool trip and each year I try and outdo myself.

“The connection I have with the Scimitar is I used to be in the Light Dragoons regiment and used to drive them and operate them and know my way around them.

“I know Rob Dove who used to be in my regiment and collects military vehicles and asked if he could drop us off.” 

He added: “My friend Dale Laverick and I got our heads together and decided to do a double-act this year.

“We did think of Putin but saw the connection between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump and decided to go as them. No one has a clue how we were arriving, so that was good."

Mr Dove, 48, who has restored military vehicles for the last 12 years, said he had only recently finished restoring it.

“Everywhere I go it turns heads. People don’t expect a road registered tank driving around the North-East.”