Star Wars mania hit Sussex yesterday, with the final film in the series giving cinemas their biggest audiences to date.

About 3,000 fans went through the doors of the Odeon in West Street, Brighton, last night.

A spokesman said yesterday: "When I arrived at 7.30am there were already two Darth Vaders having a fight with lightsabers outside the door.

"Although we have had 3,000 bookings a lot of people have booked online and have been able to do so for a month so it wasn't too bad."

He said the only film that compared in terms of the crowds was Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban.

He said: "That was released on bank holiday Monday when all the kids were off, whereas this is a week night."

Revenge Of The Sith is a prequel to the original 1977 Star Wars movie and brings the saga full circle after 28 years.

It reveals how Jedi Anakin Skywalker turns to the Dark Side and becomes Darth Vader.

It is seen as the most violent of the Star Wars films but critics have hailed Revenge Of The Sith as a return to form for creator George Lucas after The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones disappointed many fans.

It was well received by the 500 cinemagoers who stayed up past midnight on Wednesday to make up a full house for the premiere at Odeon Screen Five.

The Odeon spokesman said: "It was amazing how many people came on Wednesday night with it finishing so late."

Southern FM presenter Jack the Lad introduced the screening, which finally got underway at about 1am.

The early-morning radio show presenter said: "It was fantastic.

"It lived up to every expectation and tied everything up really nicely.

"It seemed to go down really well and there was a real air of excitement before it started.

Star Wars fan Richard Grange was in the audience and he thought the fight scenes were best.

He said: "The special effects were particularly special"