Hundreds of fans turn out for Hanley Comic Con

Darth Vader was in attendance at Hanley Comic Con, flanked by a Stormtrooper

Spider-Man, Darth Vader and Sonic the Hedgehog were among the famous characters in attendance as hundreds of fans flocked to Hanley Comic Con.

The free two-day event took place at the Potteries Centre in Stoke-on-Trent over the weekend as people celebrated well-known franchises from the world of comics, TV, film and video games.

Among the special guests were original stormtrooper Chris Bunn, Rogue One Darth Vader actor Spencer Wilding and Simon Fisher Becker, who played the Fat Friar in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

There were stalls selling figurines, accessories, posters and plush toys as well as a photo zone featuring well-known backdrops.

Cosplayers donned their best costumes for the event, including members of the group Phoenix Cosplay, which travels across the country to attend conventions.

Member Tracey Smith said they enjoyed seeing the reactions from people, especially children, when they showed off their costumes.

“They get really excited, it’s lovely to see,” she told BBC Radio Stoke .

Fans wore their best costumes for the event at the Potteries Centre

Amy Whittaker, centre manager at the Potteries Centre, said she enjoyed seeing the different outfits on display during the event.

“You’ve got someone dressed as Darth Vader, someone in an Adidas tracksuit. I think the eclectic mix of people is really nice to see,” she said.

Andrew Lewis, marketing executive at the centre, said it was a really welcoming place to be for people to “explore their interests”.