IN a few weeks time, Colchester will be invaded by hundreds of comic book characters and families will be queuing for hours to see them.

Just seven years ago, when Invasion Colchester first started, there were 80 actors and organisers were working with a shoestring budget of £500.

For founder Simon Leonard, seeing how far the charity event has come is a wondrous thing.

The same year it was set up, Colchester Borough Homes worker Simon fell extremely ill.

Invasion Colchester was his way of raising money to say thank you to the hospital that helped save him.

Simon, 43, said: "I had swine flu which gave me double pneumonia in the lungs. I was put into an induced coma because I couldn't breathe.

"I was in Colchester General Hospital for five days before being transferred to Glenfield Hospital in Leicester.

"My overall recovery took 20 months."

Following his recovery Simon, who has been involved in costuming since 2007, wanted to do something to help the hospital.

After attending a Star Wars convention in London and Disneyland Florida, he was inspired to shell out £1,500 on a Storm Trooper costume.

He said: "I didn't know anything about the charity aspect before I got the costume.

"I joined some local groups and then realised what good they were doing for the community, dressing up and visiting hospitals and children.

"People don't realise a lot of time and money goes into these costumes, you can't just hire them."

Wanting to incorporate this with a charity event, he approached Kerrie Williams, of Ace Comics in Colchester, about getting the town involved in a charity convention.

He said: "In the first year it was only Ace, Extreme Gaming, Lion Walk and the cinema that were involved.

"We did a character hunt and had 80 people in costumes.

"It was really hard trying to sell the idea of what it was to the local community, they didn't seem to grasp what it was about and it was a real struggle."

After the first year the reigns were handed over to Kerrie so Simon could fully recover.

She put her heart and soul into getting more shops to sign up to the event.

Now, Culver Square, Fenwick, Colchester Zoo, Castle Park and a whole host of independent businesses have a part to play.

Essex County Council has also jumped on board this year with a Park and Ride promotion, offering free transport to anyone in costume.

This year, on September 1, about 200 people will be dressed up.

Simon added: "We have spread the word through the radio, the Gazette, through posters, social media and For Sale boards.

"This year there will be 150 Civil War re-enactors, the Colchester Hospital Charity's superstar abseil down the Town Hall, and there will be a funfair and craft day at Firstsite.

"I enjoy the buzz around the town and seeing so many happy people. It's counting the money afterwards and seeing how generous people can be."

The event had drawn crowds from all over the county - last year there were 360 people who queued for an hour to have a photo with Batman in his Batmobile in Culver Square.

All money raised from the event goes to the Colchester Hospitals Charity and St Helena Hospice.

Simon said: "The hospital is very close to my heart, everyone who lives locally will go there at some point in their lives and people take it for granted.

"The money has helped fund a new cancer centre which will help others.

"St Helena Hospice is big in Colchester, everyone knows it and we think it's a worthy cause as they support so many people."