A FORMER alcoholic has found a novel way to exterminate his addiction, by turning his spare room into a Dr Who shrine.

Last year Steve Crompton, 36, made numerous visits to Colchester General Hospital because of his frequent boozing and developed chronic pancreatitis because of his alcohol intake.

After a nurse advised him to take up a hobby, he began to collect memorabilia from the cult sci-fi show, which has now taken over a whole bedroom in his house in Montgomery Close, Colchester.

Steve said: “When I was 14 I really liked the show and had a decent collection but we had a house fire and I lost it all.

“At that time of life I was more in to meeting girls and going to nightclubs so I didn’t really have time for hobbies.

“But last year I really needed something to take my mind off drinking and the pain it was causing me so I decided to start again.”

Steve, who has now been sober for 18 months, spends most of the cash he would have squandered on drinking on adding to his collection which includes every episode ever made on DVD, figures, a toothbrush holder and a car air freshener, even though he doesn’t drive.

He added: “I think my wife Sonia would prefer our spare room to be a lovely bedroom with all sorts of frilly bits rather than packed with Daleks and Cybermen but she much prefers this to if I were drinking.

“I would say she is quite long suffering but I have had so much support from her, my step-daughter Kirsty and her partner Adam and along with Dr Who they have really helped keep me on track.

“It is impossible to really know how much money I have spent because a lot comes from online or second hand shops but I would think it would be worth a couple of thousand pounds at least.”

Steve’s favourite Drs are current incumbent Peter Capaldi, who he has met at a fan festival, and the original Tardis traveller Tom Baker.

He said: “I shared my story online and lots of people have got a lot of help and some tickets to festivals and fairs.

“I met Peter Capaldi and got a signed picture, but I already thought he was very good.

“Now I am hoping to get tickets to meet the new assistant if I can.”