A long time ago, in a Sainsbury’s far, far away, Star Wars Stormtroopers helped St Albans customers raise £326 for charity in just under three hours.

Imperial Stormtroopers descended upon the store on Saturday, June 2 to raise money for the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, which supports families with a seriously ill child.

The UK Garrison, a Star Wars costuming group, teamed up with the Rainbow Trust as part of the charity’s ‘Time for Change’ initiative, which saw a three-day bucket collection across a dozen Sainsbury’s stores.

Gary Hailes, commanding officer of the UK Garrison, said: “We were delighted to be involved in such a worthwhile event fundraising for Rainbow Trust.

“Our members volunteer their time to support numerous charities but particularly those that support children. The instantly recognizable Storm Troopers were a great draw for the customers.”