SCIENCE fiction and cult TV enthusiasts from all over the world came to Bournemouth at the weekend for a close encounter with some of their favourite stars.

People from the USA, Australia, mainland Europe and all over Britain were among the 500 attending the three-day SF event at the Carrington Hotel.

Among them were members of the “Church of the Eternal Mary” – diehard fans of Emmy-winning American actress Mary McDonnell, who plays the president in the new series of Battlestar Galactica.

She was there to sign autographs and pose for pictures, along with Robert Picardo of Inner Space, Stargate Atlantis and Star Trek Voyager fame; Peter Jurasik of Babylon 5 and Tron; and Stephen Furst of Babylon 5.

Alasdair Macbeth, spokesman for the event, said: “It’s a large group of friends meeting up with new friends, so the family gets bigger. We’re just normal people having a good time.”

Debbie Majer said: “Most people tend to think of sci-fi as being male-orientated, but there’s an awful lot of female fans. When I was younger, it was the original Dr Who, then Star Trek. For many years I was a Star Trek fan, then I defected to Babylon 5.

“There’s a camaraderie here. A lot of people come every year. They don’t care who the guests are. We’re like a huge extended family.

“The one thing we have in common is a love of science fiction.”

One couple who met at a previous SF Ball are getting married in August. Another couple spent part of their honeymoon at a previous SFB.

The event is run by volunteers and was this year raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.