THREE days remain for Gerry Anderson’s legion of fans to put money behind the Thunderbirds creator’s latest sci-fi puppet concept.

Gerry’s son Jamie, of Hampton, near Highworth, is managing director of Anderson Entertainment and behind the bid to bring Firestorm to the small screen.

One year after successfully securing more than £33,000 through crowd-funding website Kickstarter to create book series Gemini Force One (GF1), he has been at it again, and fans have not failed him this time either.

The initial target for Firestorm, which follows an anti-terrorist operation to bring down a global threat, was almost £50,000, but the total now stands at closer to £70,000 with stretch goals to make a longer, more elaborate pilot episode, the aim.

Having raised the minimum needed in less than 96 hours, the project is now focusing on reaching its goal of £135,000 over the next three days to make a 22-minute pilot episode.

Jamie said: “Over 1,000 fans from all over the world have rallied round to help get my dad’s project off the ground.

“Now that we’ve raised the extra money needed, I’m looking forward to destroying my father’s Black Orchid (Firestorm villains) legacy in an almighty and thunderous explosion.

“The worldwide support for Firestorm from Gerry Anderson fans has been fantastic, and we’re now hoping to raise enough money for a full-length feature episode.

“With a fair wind and a bit more luck, Firestorm will be on your television screen in the very near future.”

Fans of iconic Gerry Anderson shows like Space: 1999, Stingray, Captain Scarlet, UFO and Thunderbirds can now back the project to help fund the pilot episode in return for special limited edition rewards from props and collector edition DVDs, to set visits and film credits.

The funds already raised from the Kickstarter campaign now ensure that a mini pilot episode will be made with a new filming technique called Ultramarionation.

This is the next stage in evolution from the famous Supermarionation technique of Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet, using a combination of puppetry, practical effects, physical props and sets, and model miniatures.

The campaign has already raised enough to produce a five to eight- minute episode introducing some of the characters and storyline elements of the series.

The next goals will allow for further development of characters, storyline, scenes and explosions up to a 22-minute pilot episode if £135,000 is raised and a full 45-minute feature episode if £342,000 is raised.

For informationvisit www.gerryanderson.co.uk/firestorm.