Matt Hicks was hooked when he watched a repeat of sci-fi show Doctor Who at the age of seven. Ten years on he has collected 3,000 pieces of memorabilia.

Now the Worthing Sixth Form College film student is even directing himself as the timelord in a college movie.

Among the artefacts surrounding Matt, of Abbotts Close, Worthing, are a life-size Dalek and a 9ft Tardis.

He has videotapes of all the stories, books, CDs, remote-controlled Daleks, toys, boxed figurines and mint-condition Sixties cigarette cards.

His collection has an estimated value of £20,000.

He said: "It's just so much more magical than other sci-fi series. It's a brilliant idea and it was such a successful show."

Ironically, Matt discovered the timelord while the show was enjoying a seven-year rest from the airwaves.

He said: "It was 1993 and I was only seven when my mum told me to watch one of the repeats. So I sat through that one and about three stories later I was hooked.

"The first one I saw was Planet Of The Daleks, which starred Jon Pertwee. I didn't know if it was the Daleks that got me into it or just the magic of the show.

"My next door neighbour, a vicar, had a few Dr Who videos and I started borrowing them. Through him I met someone my age who was absolutely into it.

"He already had a huge collection of stuff and I started buying the videos."

The collection started with two Dalek toys and a Dalek assembly kit.

He said: "Now it has gone from little bits and pieces to full-size props.

"A lot comes from specialist stores and model shops and mail order. Other stuff comes from the North Laine in Brighton and Hastings."

In the last 18 months Matt has acquired a full-size Dalek and Tardis via internet auctions. They came from a museum in Wales.

Matt has just finished writing the first draft of a film entitled Empires At War, in which Dalek escape pods crash to earth and cause mayhem while the Doctor must save the human race.

He will star in the two 25-minute episodes, making him the unofficial tenth Doctor Who.

He said: "My friends and I have been writing stories for years but we've never had the props. Now we have the Tardis and Dalek I'm building sets in my garage and I'm hoping the college will let me use the drama studio."

Matt's collection is taking over his family's home but parents Peter, 56, and Kim, 42, and sister Rebecca, 15, have grown to accept his hobby.

He said: "Friends come over and look at all my stuff and they are amazed. I have a competition with my friend over who has the best stuff. He hasn't been able to top the life-size Dalek.

"This man came up to the house looking for directions and I came out inside the Dalek. I think he was a bit shocked and drove off."