Tonight sees the opening of the sixth and final Star Wars film. Gazette reporters looked at the impact of the saga on fans across the county

DON'T even think about strolling along to the cinema this evening unless you want to be surrounded by grown men and women dressed up as Wookies, Princess Leia and Darth Vader.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, the final part of George Lucas' space saga, opens tonight and is likely to set box office records across the world.

Empty seats at cinemas in Swindon, Bath and Chippenham will be rarer than a married man with a job at a Star Wars convention as devotees flock to catch the film on its opening night or suffer the ignominy of being left out of conversations at work the next day.

For the first time the film has been given a 12A certificate, which means youngsters under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. But that won't stem the tide of people wanting to see it, said John Keil, general manager of the UCG Cinema at Shaw Ridge, Swindon. "We'll have three screens showing the film and there's been a lot of pre-booking

already,'' he said.

"It's difficult to predict numbers because the reviews will affect that, as will things like the weather on the day, but we're expecting a busy weekend."

By the time you pick up your Gazette this morning some fans will already have seen the film. Special showings at 12.35am at the Odeon in Bath and Cineworld at Greenbridge were packed to the rafters.

Odeon manager Simon Morse said: "We are doing more showings of this film than any other since we opened last October," he said.

"Real fans want to be the first to see it whatever time it's on. We want everyone to have the opportunity to see it as soon as they can and we've had to extend our licence to make it possible."

Star Wars fever will be taking over Cineworld tonight as actors dressed as the characters from the film invade the building. Among them will be Swindon's own Luke Skywalker.

Mr Skywalker, 37, who changed his name by deed poll from Kaye and runs a fancy dress shop in Faringdon Road, Swindon, has already seen the film twice. He was in Star Wars heaven after attending the London premiere in Leicester Square on Monday, and was then invited at another screening the next night.

He said of the film: "It was absolutely fantastic. Obviously it's not as good as the Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi, but it's better than the other two.

"The atmosphere was incredible with literally thousands of people there. They had all the Stormtroopers plus the music. All the big names, apart from Natalie Portman, were there - like George Lucas," said Mr Skywalker.

On Tuesday he was invited back again for a second showing.

Mr Skywalker, who started up his shop in Fleet Street eight years ago and moved to larger premises in 2003, said the films have been an obsession.

"I've always loved Star Wars right from the moment I first watched one as a kid. Things are very exciting at the moment and with the new film coming out we are very, very busy."

For Devizes author Karen Traviss an interest in the films has led to a burgeoning career that is now seeing her shape the destiny of the film's main characters in novels that take the story beyond the movies.

With three new books in the pipeline featuring Han, Luke and Leia, Ms Traviss is more immersed in the Star Wars universe than most and she has nothing but praise for the legions of fans.

She met thousands of them at a convention in Indianapolis to mark the opening of the new film .

She said: "Mixing with the fans was the most incredible experience and I've never seen such a varied group of people all ages, races and backgrounds. They were very good humoured and with a real sense of fun."

The success of her first Star Wars novel, Hard Contact, led to further talks with the Star Wars high command at George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in California.

Now she is hard at work on novels two, five and eight in a nine-book novel arc exploring the lives of Han, Luke and Leia when they are aged around 50.

She will be watching Revenge of the Sith at Yeovil on Saturday with a friend but admitted she has already seen sections of it. "I think it is going to be the best of the three," she said. "It is very dark, but visually spectacular quite stunning."

It is not just books and cinema seats that are selling fast on the back of the new adventure.

While Clintons in Devizes is doing a brisk trade in Darth Vader mugs and model Yodas (and Darth Vader money boxes are on the way) more expensive collectibles are hugely popular at memorabilia store Infinitely Better at the Brunel Centre in Swindon.

Owner Steve Goss, who lives in Calne, said: "Star Wars has been a cult movie for a long time and when there's a new movie it always creates a lot of interest, particularly since this movie seems to be better than the other two.

"We've got loads of Star Wars stuff and people just can't get enough of it. We're also in talks with one of the main cast members and, if we're successful, there could be a big name coming in August."

He sells signed limited edition artwork as well as strips of the original movie which people can buy in special presentation packs, ranging from £35 to £200.

Meanwhile back in Devizes, the hype has yet to take hold at the town's Palace Cinema. Staff there have no idea when the film will arrive.