Thunderbirds creators 'would be amazed' by new footage

Gerry and Sylvia Anderson co-created the hit science-fiction puppet series, which ran from 1965

The creators of TV show Thunderbirds would be "amazed" that unseen footage of the show had been found in a garden shed, their children have said.

Dee Anderson, the daughter of Sylvia Anderson and stepdaughter of Gerry Anderson, said the show was a big part of her childhood and it was "fantastic" to see interest had not faded.

Film cans containing unseen scenes from the show, filmed on the the Slough Trading Estate in Berkshire, were found last year and handed to Century 21 Films.

Gerry Anderson's son Jamie said his dad, who lived in Henley, Oxfordshire, would be "thrilled, if a little embarrassed" at the interest in the previously unseen material.

"The dedication and passion of the fans who found this latest discovery is truly remarkable," he said.

"Their enthusiasm to share it with the wider world is wonderful to see."

Century 21 Films is asking for anyone else with artefacts from the Thunderbirds studio to get in touch ahead of the show's 60th anniversary next year.

The film cans were found in a garden shed

Dee said Thunderbirds "defined her childhood" and she could "remember everything" about growing up surrounded by it.

"Going to the studio in Slough, seeing all the puppets, walking on the stage," she said.

"I remember it really clearly."

The actor and musician said she used to go to the studio every Sunday and do her homework in the next room, where she could see the show being recorded through the window.

She recalled how they used to do a lot of improvisation, and remembered at one point seeing them working with real life baby alligators on set.

Dee said seeing her parents (second left and second right) work together was inspirational

She said seeing Gerry and Sylvia work together on the pioneering show was an inspiration.

"It was just ground-breaking," she said.

"It showed me... that if you take a few risks and you really go for what you want you can actually make it."