Martians invade steampunk festival at Blists Hill - with pictures
A Martian invasion of earth centred on Shropshire at the weekend, with a fight back to victory in a Victorian village.
The battle played out at the Ironbridge museum at Blists Hill, with one of the most unusual events of the year there.
The steampunk festival brought fans of the genre from across Britain and beyond to the area for two days of the fantasy world.
A neo-Victorian scientific fantasy, steampunk mixes new technology and 19th century steam, and the Ministry of Steampunk worked with the Blists Hill staff to organise the weekend.
Enthusiastic arrived in elaborate fashions inspired by Victorian and Edwardian costumes, reinvented for the 21st century and beyond.
Check out our gallery from the steampunk festival:
Marketing officer Richard Aldred said this year's event centred on an apocalyptic Martian invasion of earth and the fight back to ultimate victory by the steampunk heroes.
The museums usual members joined in the fun, from using the steam roller to ward off the martians to ensuring the Victorian chemist was prepared to fight the alien germs.
"This year is the fourth year and it is getting bigger and bigger," Richard said.
"This is certainly the biggest one we have every done both is terms of the steampunk enthustiasts and the general public that come along to see all the costumes."
"The weather has been very kind too us."
He said the Victorian town proved a perfect backdrop for Steampunk and the festival was fast becoming one of the top events for the genre in the country.
A special Steampunk artisan market provided props and accessories for visitors.
