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A Doctor Who superfan has laid claim to having the world’s largest collection of the show’s memorabilia

Story and video from SWNS

A Doctor Who superfan has laid claim to having the world's largest collection of the show's memorabilia - after spending over £100,000 on "at least a million" items.

Brian Mattocks, 50, says he became "obsessed" with the hit BBC series after watching an episode in 1979 which ended on a cliffhanger - and he hasn't missed an episode since.

His loving parents bought the then nine-year-old boy a Dalek action figure which kickstarted his lifelong passion for collecting items from the show.

Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants which are found in the series which has been running on BBC One since 1963.

A Welsh schoolgirl, Lily Connors, recently bagged a Guinness World Record after amassing 6,641 Doctor Who items.

Devoted Brian believes his "shrine" could easily beat but it would "take months to count".

He has an entire room in his house which is filled from wall to wall with items ranging from every book and magazine ever published, to toys and board games.

Single Brian, from Wigan, Lancs., said: "Anything I can find that's Doctor Who related I will get - it's become a bit of an obsession of mine.

"My mum says I don't have a collection, I have a shrine.

"Christmases and birthdays throughout the years have been a Godsend or I'd be broke - but I must have spent at least £100,000 over the years.

"I'd say I have easily at least a million items but I just couldn't ever get around to counting them all - it would literally take months."

He added: "Foolishly my parents used to buy me Doctor Who toys growing up - I don't think they could have ever anticipated where it would get to.

"They bought me a Dalek toy - and maybe they shouldn't have."

Brian, who can't work due to having sleep apnoea, said he was bullied a lot growing up and the sci-fi series provided him with the perfect escape.

The dedicated boy has spent each Saturday evening glued to his TV screen since 1979 - after first watching an episode of Destiny of the Daleks.

He said: "When I was eight I had my first memory of watching a Dalek episode and it ended on a cliffhanger.

"I had to keep watching and it just snowballed from there. I think I've spent every Saturday night between 5-6pm watching on BBC One ever since.

"Got ready in front of the television every weekend and it's one of those memories that I look back on so fondly.

"I was bullied a lot as a kid so for me Doctor Who was a sort of escape from it all."

He was inspired to begin collecting after watching an episode of Nationwide which featured a superman superfan.

Brian now boasts a collection of every VHS, DVD, and magazine ever published as well as toys, game boards and even an arcade game console.

He has a 1953 first edition board game which he said he bought for a bargain £100.

He said: "I have every book that's ever been published and every magazine.

"They're all in one main room but it's getting to a point where I'm running out of space - I keep finding little nooks and crannies to fill."

His most expensive item in his collection is an action man style figurine which is worth roughly £800 on eBay.

But Brian said he doesn't intend to sell any items from his "shrine".

He said: "The room is full from the floor to the ceiling with Doctor Who items.

"I feel like it's my baby I've seen grow up.

"I don't see them as just my toys, they're like a journey to my childhood - I'd never sell any of them.

"The room was originally a bedroom but there's no room for a bed now - it's just wall to wall Doctor Who items.

"I keep telling myself I'll stop but I keep finding space in my room and as long as I do I'll keep finding new things."

Brian, who says he has watched every single episode ever multiple times over, can recite most lines of the show off the top of his head.

He added: "I have watched every episode ever and I can recite most lines - that's how obsessed I am."