Today is May 4 - Star Wars day to many!

Southampton streets looked more like a galaxy far, far away when Star Wars fans, many dressed in costume, were waiting to hop on to a ferry to the Isle of Wight.

It was in May 1997, when fans of the science fiction movie rode the Red Funnel across the Solent to see The Empire hijack Medina Theatre in Newport, Isle of Wight.

Visitors to the convention saw thousands of artefacts, costumes, masks and memorabilia – including Darth Vader’s original costume.

Daily Echo:

They even got to meet Michael Sheard who played Admiral Ozzel in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back.

The first Star Wars movie was released in the UK on December 27, 1977.

Daily Echo: Star Wars - Convention on the Isle of Wight - May 26, 1997

Fans had to wait seven months after the groundbreaking science fiction film was released across the Atlantic

Hundreds of eager film fans queued up outside Southampton cinemas to get their first glimpse of the movie.