THEY were certainly not the everyday customers to be found loitering around your local leisure centre.

But aliens, Darth Vader, R2D2, the Daleks, and a clutch of Klingons were not dropping by Fleming Park, in Eastleigh, to keep fit.

They were joining more than 5,000 people flocking to the Sci-Fi South Collectors’ Show for an out-of-this-world event with some famous stars. One of them was Dave Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars films.

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The 75-year-old actor from London, who stands 6ft 2in and was the former Green Cross Code man, said: “People feel they can become part of the film and sci-fi experience by coming to events like this.” Also signing autographs were Doug Bradley, who played the Hellraiser, Danny John Jules, aka the Cat in Red Dwarf, and Kenny Baker, the man behind the pint-sized robot, R2D2. Organiser Dave Tarrant, 31, who was dressed up as Han Solo from Star Wars, said: “They are all a special group of people and we hope we have given them a good reason to come along.

Echo pictures by Stuart Martin.