FANS of Star Wars may be interested to know that many of the designs used in the first film were produced in Whitehaven.

Designs for memorabilia to accompany A New Hope, the first film in George Lucas' franchise, were produced in the Smith's Factory at Hensingham. 

Smith's work for the film also won the factory a coveted design award in 1978.

It was displayed at the Hensingham Factory when the Star Wars main designer visited the town.

The photos of the day were taken by local photographer Ivor Nicholas and turned up after all these years when he and his friend Gerard Richardson were scanning negatives for a new book they hope to release this Christmas. 

Gerard Richardson said: "I've followed Star Wars for decades so it blew my mind when these negatives turned up.

"As the film wasn’t really rated during production in 1977, it's possible this wasn’t that big a story at the time but now, looking back at the multi-decade behemoth that the franchise became, it's a part of history.

"I wonder if Princess Leia's famous gold bikini that was auctioned earlier this year for just under £200k or R2D2 was designed in Whitehaven?"