Superhero fun at Telford Comic Con event

The Midlands Comic Con brought together fans and stars of TV at Telford's International Centre.

Red Dwarf star Chris Barrie was forced to pull out of the event because of storm damage to his house, but his co-stars Danny John-Jules and Hattie Hayridge – aka Cat and Holly – were at the event to meet avid fans.

They were joined by former S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt who played Abby Maitland in ITV sci-fi drama Primeval.

The convention packed out two halls at the TIC, with thousands of fans from across the UK dressing up for the occasion.

Car park queues were forming by 10am as fans lined the venue to visit collectable stalls and meet the stars.

Hayridge said the crowds were fantastic but admitted not recognising half of the costumes.

She said: "I love the costumes here today, the fans always put in so much effort, but I must admit I don't know half of them." The actress also attributed some of the recent popularity of the conventions to American sitcom The Big Bang Theory.

She said: "I love the show and raced out to get the box set. The show really made fans of comics not feel weird about what they enjoy."

The star thrilled fans by telling them filming for a new series of Red Dwarf would take place later this year and would air in 2015. She said: "Fans always ask if there is going to be a film or a new series. I do enjoy working with them, I still see the cast a lot, we had a lot of good banter on that ship. There will be a new series next year but we haven't filmed it yet."

Superheroes like Superman, Batman, Wonderwoman and even the Power Rangers all descended on the event.

Spearritt, who starred as lizard-loving zookeeper Abby Maitland in the ITV sci-fi show, said: "The atmosphere is fantastic, the costumes are great."

The actress excited fans by talking about a possible movie and said: "We might come back in the future and do a one-off or there is the possibility of a movie."

Making his debut appearance at Midlands Comic Con was top anime voice actor Vic Mignogna, best known for playing Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist, Ikkaku Madarame in Bleach and Broly in the Dragon Ball Z.

The MCM Comic Village also played host to talented UK comic artists and writers, including Laura Watton, Lee Townsend and Laura Howell.

Fans had the chance to see robots battling live when BBC game show Robot Wars took to the stage. Other attractions included the Cosplay Masquerade, a Dance Revolution and retro gaming zone

A host of dealers were selling everything from the latest anime to original artworks, sci-fi collectables, toys and Japanese sweets.

Comic lovers could buy collectables ranging from comic books, posters, costumes and figures – and comic book fans with £1,600 to spare could get their hands on The Avengers no.1 comic from 1963.

Dave Finn, owner of Into Comics, travelled from Dover to sell at the Telford convention and said: "I have been selling comics since 1988. I have sold one comic for £25,000. Most of my items here are items from the last 20 years which have been over produced, but people are looking for rare editions especially of The Avengers or The Fantastic Four."

Comic reader Leander Butter, 19, from Market Drayton, was excited that the convention had come to Shropshire.

She said: "We have travelled to Manchester in the past so I was very excited to hear the event was going to be held nearby. I love comics, I grew up watching Batman and just loved the storylines and characters. I am a real Dectective Comics fan."

Star Wars fans had the chance to purchase an original vintage figure from 1978. But anyone wanting to get their hands on a scale model of Princess Leia would have had to have nearly £1,500 burning a hole in their pocket.

Darren Simpson, from Skegness, who owns Star Zone, a toys and collectables business which specialises in Star Wars memorabilia, said: "I started the company in 1991 but I have been collecting items since I was a kid and it has evolved from there.

"I sell items from £4 upwards but Princess Leia is one of only a handful in existence.

"The Telford convention is fantastic. It is getting bigger and bigger."

As fans entered the venue they were whisked into a world of fantasty, with members from UK Garrison dressed as the marines from 1986 film Alien.

Graham Green, from Lincolnshire, said: "Events like today are a great chance to put reality aside."

Adrian Philpott, from Luton, added: "There is a fantastic atmosphere here today, the public have been so enthusiastic, it has been great."

• Don't miss Shropshire Star Weekend's superheroes special edition this Saturday