You can't keep Action Man down... especially when he's in space

Ade Pitman, who set up the UK 1:6 Collectors Club from his home in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, is organising a show for Action Man devotees across the UK.

Some of the rarest figures will be at the event in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, later this year as well as other memorabilia.

Mr Pitman, who is 40 himself, has collected more than 200 figures.

He set up the fan club after his girlfriend bought him an Action Man doll as a Valentine's Day gift four years ago and his childhood interest was sparked again.

Desperate to share his interest with other fans, he scoured the internet looking for Action Man groups but found none, so decided to set up his own.

It now boasts 500 members across the world including Australia, Hong Kong and America as well as the UK.

I think trainspotters get more credibility than us Ade Pitman

The Welsh Action Figure Show will be on 15 October in the Severn Bridge Social Club, Chepstow.

"We are going to have hundreds of dolls there and uniforms, and there will be model tank displays," he said.

"People will get a chance to see some really rare Action Man figures and add to their collections."

He's 40 - but there's no sign of grey hair or middle-aged spread yet

"I had an Action Man every year from the age of about five until I was about 16," he said.

"And then I didn't get any until my girlfriend bought me one about four or five years ago and now I am hooked again," he said.

He has since collected over 200 figures and makes Action Man houses designed in a war-zone style, complete with bullet holes.

Action Man started life as GI Joe in the United States in the 1960s and its popularity soon took off. It was introduced in the UK under the new name of Action Man in 1966.

Since then, he has taken on various guises as soldiers, divers, and even astronauts.

Its maker, Hasbro, has relicensed a variety of the original Action Man this year to celebrate the 40th anniversary.

Everyone loves a man in a uniform

"People do look at me a bit odd when I tell them and I think trainspotters get more credibility than us," laughed Mr Pitman.

"Sometimes when we meet new members in a pub, we might not know what they look like, so we will put an Action Man on the table and we do get a few odd looks from other people when they see grown men playing with an Action Man doll.

"But as a club we raise money for charity and we enjoy it."