NEVER mind Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo is this Star Wars fan's only hope if he wants to achieve every cast autograph for his prized movie poster.

Die-hard fan Chris Thirtle from Witney only needs one more celebrity signature to complete his poster that features a mixture of characters from the first six episodes.

But it is proving a difficult task to pin down superstar Harrison Ford.

The 23-year-old, who works at musical instrument shop PMT Oxford, fell in love with the sci-fi films when he was a child. His favourite film our of the series is Empire Strikes Back, which was released in May 1980 and was the highest grossing film of the year.

Mr Thirtle said: "My dad showed me the old series when I was about five and I was just hooked from there.

"When you're young it's so exciting as there are all these loud noises and lightsabers. It was amazing."

And his obsession went from there, with Mr Thirtle buying memorabilia, costumes, convention tickets, and his treasured movie poster.

He added: "I started out just taking the poster to conventions and getting the actors to sign it.

"But I've been doing it for six years now – and two of the cast members who signed the poster have actually died now.

"So I can never re-do this, not at this point. It'll just be amazing when it's finally done."

Although admitting he knows Harrison Ford – who plays loveable rogue Han Solo in the Star Wars films – is a private man, Mr Thirtle still desperately wants to ask him for the final autograph. And he has not ruled out using the Force to get what he wants.

He said: "Harrison Ford doesn't really do the whole convention thing. But I heard he is going to Milton Keynes soon. He'll be at a court case for a car accident that actually happened in the Star Wars films. It might just be his reps that go but on the off chance he is there, I'd very happily drive to find out."

Mr Ford's name will be the 33rd signature for Mr Thirtle, completing the set of actors who feature on the poster.

He added: "I've probably put about £300 or £400 into this. I would never sell it but I'd be interested in getting it appraised."

The film buff, who lives in Burwell Meadow, said out of all the cast members he met he was most excited about Mark Hamill, who plays Luke Skywalker.

He said: "I met him a month of two ago and I actually cried after I met him. It was so surreal. I have Carrie Fisher's autograph as well, who plays Princess Leia."

Even when he achieves Mr Ford's autograph, Mr Thirtle said he would not stop attending conventions or asking for more Star Wars cast signatures.

His next dream is to be an extra in one of the future Star Wars movies.