Exhibition celebrates 60 years of Thunderbirds

The exhibition celebrates the series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson

Iconic 1960s puppet series Thunderbirds has celebrated its 60th anniversary at the birthplace of the TV show.

Slough Museum reunited fans with the original puppets of beloved characters, such as Lady Penelope, Brains and the Tracy Family, on the Slough Trading Estate where the programme was originally filmed.

At a special event on Saturday, the charity museum in the Berkshire town showcased sci-fi toys and memorabilia in a model display of the original studio, which also featured a high-definition screening of the very first episode, Trapped in the Sky.

The exhibition celebrating the series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson is open every Friday and Saturday until 20 December.

Slough Museum reunited fans with the original puppets from the show

Gerry Anderson's son Jamie said: "It was truly special to see so many people gather to celebrate this legendary series.

"What makes it even more meaningful is doing so here on the Slough Trading Estate – the very place where Thunderbirds was brought to life 60 years ago.

"My heartfelt thanks to Slough Museum for making this celebration possible, it has been a fitting tribute to my father's – and Sylvia's – extraordinary legacy."

Gerry Anderson was inspired to create the show about a futuristic global rescue organisation after hearing about the 1963 Lengede mining disaster in West Germany.

Thunderbirds used the sophisticated "supermarionation" technique of puppetry and intricate scale models to bring the story to life at the studio in Slough, where 32 episodes were created.