The Force was definitely with young Joseph Dancer as friends and family celebrated his birthday by dressing up as iconic heroes and villains from a galaxy far, far away.

The seven-year-old of Mierscourt Road, Rainham, wasn’t able to have a party last year as his family were still in the process of moving back into their home after a devastating house fire in September 2014.

The blaze started in the house next to them, but as the houses are terraced, the fire spread to Joseph’s bedroom wall which cracked badly and suffered heat stress.

The house was damaged by smoke and water, all the upstairs carpets had to be replaced and asbestos was found in the kitchen, dining room and ceiling, so had to be removed.

The family of three moved to a friend’s house for a few weeks after the fire before moving to a hotel and then to a rented property in Rainham for six months, before they were finally allowed to move back home in April 2015.

Joseph’s mum Jayne, 28, said: “Joseph didn’t complain once, he took it all in his step and was very grown up, we moved back home in April 2015 – the week of his birthday so it wasn’t very enjoyable for him because we were all up in the air.

“In July 2015 I suffered a miscarriage which affected us all a great deal, Joseph most of all, but he went out of his way to try and cheer me up and look after me.”

Joseph, who was diagnosed with autism in January, has recently got into Star Wars, and friend of the family has set up The Empire Costume Group, which supports the Autism All Stars Charity, and offered their services for Joseph’s birthday party.

Mrs Dancer, who is expecting her second child in July, said: “He wanted a party last year but because we had a fire and had to move out, he couldn’t have one.

“Since the fire Joseph has got really into Star Wars but because of fire damage his dad Carl had to throw away all his old Star Wars toys.

"The Empire Costume Group heard about this, so we got together and came up with the idea of giving him a Star Wars birthday party, which was a complete success.”

The Parkwood Christian Fellowship, Parkwood Green, doubled up as a desert cantina for the party on Saturday and welcomed the likes of Darth Vader, Imperial guards and the Jedi while Joseph dressed as Boba Fett.

All the costumes were supplied by the Empire Costume Group.