DESPITE the snow and cold the force was strong with the midnight premiere of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

More than 100 film fans from across Lancashire made the journey to Vue Blackburn at Peel Leisure and Retail Park, on Lower Audley Street, for this morning's screening.

Some fans came dressed up as characters from the film franchise, originally created by George Lucas, including Qui Gon Jiin, Obi Wan Kenobi, Kylo Ren and Thrawn.

There were also Star Wars t-shirts, toys and other merchandise on sale especially for the release of the highly anticipated film, directed by Rian Johnson.

After the film, Lancashire reporter Ciaran Duggan spoke to some of the fans to ask them what they thought of it.

Thomas Bradford, 24, who lives in Clitheroe, said: "I thought it was Mark Hamill's best performance because he had more gravitas in this film than any other one he has been in previously."

Ben Houldsworth, 24, who also travelled from Clitheroe, and was dressed up as Obi Wan Kenobi said: "It was awful.

"It was the worst Star Wars film I have seen in my life.

"It did not satisfy questions I wanted to have answered."