The charity, which is raising £5million towards a state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre, collected nearly £1,300 after generous shoppers gave donations in exchange for having a photograph taken with a number of characters from the hit science fiction saga including stormtroopers, Darth Vader and Princess Leia, earlier this month.

"The UK Garrison members are all volunteers, and on behalf of the charity, I would like to thank them for giving up their time and putting on what was a memorable, entertaining and very popular and successful event. To raise nearly £1,300 is a real boost to the charity."

Mark Jones, director of fundraising and communications for Ark Cancer Centre Charity