THE FORCE was with shoppers in Southampton - and it needed to be.

Luke Skywalker's arch foe Darth Vader took time off from dominating the known universe to drop into WestQuay shopping centre.

But there was no need to call on Han Solo's light sabre - or even C3PO and R2D2. Instead, shoppers at Athena were given the chance to meet the man behind the mask of Darth - former Green Cross Code man David Prowse.

Prowse played Darth Vader in the original smash hit 1977 film Star Wars. He was at Athena to sign stills from the film for fans.