by Hayley Robinson

More than 2,000 people attended a two-day sci-fi convention at Swallows leisure centre over the weekend.

Actors from the original Star Wars trilogy and Doctor Who were the main attraction.

On Saturday there was appearances from David Prowse, who played Darth Vader, Jeremy Bulloch, who was Boba Fett, Tim Rose, better known as Sy Snootles/Admiral Ackbar/Selacious B, Alan Flyn, an imperial officer and Mike Edmonds, who was one of the Ewoks.

The following day saw Tony Philpott, who played Jabba the Hut, Anthony Forrest, who was a storm trooper/imperial officer and Peter Roy, who appeared as one of the wing commanders in The Empire Strikes Back.

He was also a policeman in Doctor Who.

David Prowse, Alan Flyn and Peter Roy were so impressed with the response to the meeting that they returned on the Sunday despite not being booked in.

Visitors were able to meet the actors and get their autograph or photo taken with them for a fee.

There was also a chance to have their picture taken with stormtrooper, Darth Vader and Ghostbuster lookalikes as well as Dave the Dalek in exchange for a donation to Demelza Hospice Care for Children.

As a result, £180 was raised for the charity.

Stallholders selling sci-fi games, figures and books did well, many of them making between £400 and £1,000 on the Saturday after more than 1,800 people made their way through the doors.

Around 600 people were there on the Sunday.

Dean Crittenden, managing director of organisers DTC Events, said: “It went so well.

"I’ve had email after email from people saying what a great day they had and asking if it’s coming back. I also had a phone call from David Prowse saying what a lovely day he’d had.

“Due to its success we’re looking into holding it again on the last Saturday of July next year, but we’re yet to finalise everything.

“I’d like to thank the staff at the leisure centre as we didn’t have one problem, so it’s thanks to them it ran smoothly.”

See this week's Sittingbourne News Extra for more photos from the event - out Wednesday.