Chippenham's first sci-fi event is taking place in October this year and actors from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Farscape are already confirmed to attend.

Film and TV actors, prop exhibitors and comic and film memorabilia collectors and traders will attend the event on October 25 at the Neeld Hall.

Guests confirmed so far are: Pam Rose, an alien in Star Wars: A New Hope; Virginia Hey, Pa’u Zotoh Zhaan in Farscape; and Simon Fisher-Becker, who was Dorium Maldovar in series five and six of Doctor Who and will be performing his one-man show My Dalek Has A Puncture.

Also booked are Jon Davey, who has performed as many monsters in more than 25 episodes of Doctor Who, and Nick Joseph, who was the first medal bearer in Star Wars: A New Hope and also featured in episodes of Doctor Who with Tom Baker and Colin Baker.

It had appeared the event would not go ahead, despite months of planning, after some of Chippenham Town Council’s events committee said more market research was needed and voted to defer it until next year.

This annoyed Coun Martin Coates, who said: “The decision to postpone was pretty disappointing considering all the work that (town council events manager) Emma King has done so far.”

He decided to team up with Anthony Milner, a businessman who lives in the town, to stage the event himself.

Coun Coates, 45, said: “Anthony and I are determined to take up the challenge. The whole point is to deliver a fun family event and raise funds for charity.

“We hope to have Daleks, droids, Storm Troopers, aliens, K9 and many more.”

Mr Milner, 31, who runs AKM Photography in Bath, said: “The response so far has been fantastic. You only have to look at Corsham Sci-Fi to see how popular these events are.”

Corsham’s annual event in April had 440 visitors when it started in 2007 and last year attracted 4,000.

Tickets will be available at www.chippenhamscifi.co.uk Potential sponsors or volunteer stewards are asked to email info@chippenhamscifi .co.uk