The final Force is with us

The final Star Wars film premiered across the US as part of a huge charity fundraiser.

Fans in 10 cities had camped out for days to get their hands on tickets priced at £270 each to see Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

Mark Hamill, the original Luke Skywalker, delighted thousands of fans at the Los Angeles screening last night as he paused to chat outside the Man National Theatre.

In New York the stars of the new film took to the red carpet. An excited Liam Neeson walked the fashion gauntlet wearing an all-white suit, which had photographers shouting: "Look at us Forrest Gump." The 52-year-old starred as Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I, alongside Ewan McGregor, who plays Obi-Wan Kenobi.

SamuelLJackson, 56, who plays Jedi Mace Windu in the Revenge of Sith, posed with Darth Vader, storm trooper and Wookie characters outside the Ziegfeld Theatre.

Muppets creator Frank Oz - the 60-year-old puppeteer who brought Yoda to life - joked with photographers as he walked into the theatre.

And though there was no sign of the original Darth Vader, the man who

brought villain Darth Maul to life - Ray Park - earned mock hisses when he arrived.

Notable absences included the new film's main stars, Canadian actor Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) and Natalie Por tman ( Princess Padme).

Christensen, 24, is currently filming an Italian-based Plague drama The Decameron. Portman, 23, is away filming a thriller titled V For Vendetta.

George Lucas's Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith completes nearly 30 years of storytelling.

Cannes will host the world premiere on Sunday and the London premiere screens at Odeon Leicester Square on Monday.