Lymm Willy Wonka superfan's world of pure imagination ahead of film

Nick Anderton, 44, started collecting memorabilia from the film franchise in 2005, and he now has around 2,500 items in his 'Wonka Wing' at his Lymm home.

His collection features the handprints of Gene Wilder, who played Willy Wonka in the 1971 film, and he even has an original Wonka Bar from the 1971 version of the film.

Nick Anderton with his Willy Wonka collection. Picture: SWNS

Nick has now been given merchandise from the new film – called Wonka – which will be released on December 15 and stars Timothée Chalamet as Willy Wonka.

Part of the film was filmed in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and features a boat where Timothée goes on the boat to capture Oompa-Loompas.

Nick Anderton with his Willy Wonka collection. Picture: SWNS

Nick has already been on the boat and has been given sections of the boat rivet by the crew, so he thinks he is the first person to have memorabilia from the new film.

"I am so excited they are using songs from the 1970 film, because Gene Wilder is the ultimate one, but Timothée does kinda look like a young Gene Wilder,” he said.

"If I was a big Hollywood producer and I had the rights to the story, I would be bringing out a film every ten years to get the new market in. I am hoping for more."

Nick Anderton with his Willy Wonka collection. Picture: SWNS

Nick decided to start collecting merchandise after he watched the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was directed by Tim Burton.

The attraction manager now has prints from the film, pencils, pencil cases, DVDs and more than 200 versions of the book in different languages in his collection.

Nick Anderton with his Willy Wonka collection. Picture: SWNS

Nick, who runs Facebook group Willy Wonka fanatics, said: "I remember watching it when I was around seven or eight and liking the imagery of the film. I was just blown away by it all.

"Then the Johnny Depp film was released was released, which is when I started collecting.

"I did want some things from the original film, but I thought I would never be able to afford it.

Nick Anderton with his Willy Wonka collection. Picture: SWNS

"But I managed to get some things such as candy canes from the film and it went from there."

Because of his collection, Nick has even became friends with Julie Dawn Cole, 65, who played Veruca Salt in the 1971 film, and she sold him her Wonka Bar.

Nick Anderton with his Willy Wonka collection. Picture: SWNS

The bar was given it her on her 13th birthday by film director Mel Stuart, but she decided to sell it to Nick after her family decided they did not want it.

Nick, who is married to husband Donnie, 50, said: "She phoned me up the day that Gene Wilder died about six years ago and let me know.

"She then phoned me the next day and I thought it was by mistake.

Nick Anderton with his Willy Wonka collection. Picture: SWNS

"She then explained that when I first met her at Comic Con, she said she would sell the bar to me one day because she knew I would not sell it.

"It was like she was giving me the keys to chocolate factory – it is a great gift. She has even signed me posters, huge 3D printed gobstoppers and golden eggs."