Star Wars actor David Prowse has said a sci-fi convention in Bury St Edmunds is one of the best he has ever been to.

The star, who played Darth Vader in the original trilogy of films, met fans, signed autographs and posed for photos at the opening weekend of the fifth Time & Space exhibition at the Moyse’s Hall Museum.

It is estimated more than 10,000 people of all ages, including international visitors, have poured through the doors of the event which got underway on Saturday with a parade of costumed characters through Bury town centre.

Alex McWhirter, heritage officer at the museum, said: “It has been very successful, just huge.

“We have put a lot of work into making this a professional exhibition and it is a little bit more than a convention. The feedback has been great, and one man said we should be proud.

“David Prowse said, and I’m sure he won’t mind us sharing this, that it was the best convention he had ever been to and he would come back any time.

“This is our fifth year and we started small, but the atmosphere this weekend was of a lot of excitement. It’s been lovely to see jaws drop at some of our displays.”

There is a range of costumes, props, toys and memorabilia on display from a range of cult sci-fi stories including Judge Dredd, Star Trek and Terminator, as well as a DeLorean licence plate from Back To The Future.

The exhibition lasts for two weeks, with Louise Jameson, who played Dr Who’s fourth assistant Leela during the Tom Baker era, on hand to meet visitors next weekend.

There is a children’s workshop tomorrow where youngsters can make Terminator hands.