POLICE are following up leads after £20,000 of Star Wars toys and costumes were stolen from a fan.

As reported in yesterday's late edition of the Adver, thieves broke padlocks and forced their way into a lock-up in Penhill used by shop owner Luke Skywalker.

Mr Skywalker said: "The police are working really hard to try and track down who did this.

"They are doing everything we could ask of them and we already have a couple of leads."

He said it appeared the theft happened on Monday afternoon.

Mr Skywalker who changed his name from Luke Kaye 20 years ago initially believed that youngsters may have targeted the lock-up.

But now he believes that it may have been carried out by professional thieves who knew about some of the rare items used by Mr Skywalker in exhibitions.

Mr Skywalker said he had been left downhearted by the theft.

The items were taken just days before the opening of the final Star Wars film, Revenge Of The Sith.

He said: "I can't believe it has happened.

"In some ways I feel like giving up after this, but the passion is still there and that is what is keeping me going."

Despite the setback, Mr Skywalker still managed to attend the Cineworld multiplex cinema in Greenbridge last night to celebrate the new release and took along costumes for members of staff to wear.

He has now emptied the lock-up and moved remaining items to a secret location.

Among the items stolen are the head of a full-size C-3PO robot, a Darth Vader helmet, which had been borrowed by Mr Skywalker for his exhibitions, including one he had recently acquired in Birmingham.

Also taken were around 30 assorted masks and helmets of Star Wars characters, as well as a complete Boba Fett bounty hunter costume and Tusken raider costume.

Numerous boxed toys, which Mr Skywalker has collected since he was a child, were also taken.

The items have been valued at around £20,000 and a spokeswoman for Swindon police said inquiries were ongoing.

However, because the items were so unusual police are urging anyone offered them for sale to contact Swindon Police on 528111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.