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A spectacular Star Wars-themed lift is thrilling shoppers at the Fenwick department store in Newcastle.

Customers wanting to travel between floors in the famous Northumberland Street store are faced with a life-size Captain Phasma in the lift.

The female Stormtrooper, who is set to appear in the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, immediately points a gun at anyone entering the enclosure but stands at ease as soon as she realises it’s only harmless shoppers.

The character, who wears distinctive chrome armour, finally puts the weapon away before the video loop repeats again.

The eye-catching moving images have been installed at Fenwick to celebrate the December release of the much-awaited film, The Force Awakens.

And it has wowed fans, especially youngsters, many of whom took the chance to travel up and down and back up (to the toy department..) in the store several times.

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Brother and sister Todd and Jessica Wilcox were among those to try out the lift alongside their parents Helen and Michael.

Todd, nine, is a big fan of the Star Wars series and has already bought tickets for the new instalment.

He said: “It’s brilliant - I think the lift looks great with the new Star Wars character. I’ve seen every single Star Wars film and I can’t wait to see the next one.”

Four-year-old Leon Milligan, of Walkergate, Newcastle, was there with his mum Nancy, 45.

She said: “Leon loves Star Wars, he’s got Stormtrooper T-shirts and we have bought other things for him as well. He wanted to go inside the lift to see what it was like. I think it’s fantastic, you don’t get to see something like this when you are out shopping.”

Paula and Mark Grainger took their seven-year-old son Jack to the store and were amazed to see the video.

Jack said: “The lift is amazing, it’s really cool. I have seen five of the Star Wars films and I enjoyed them. What they’ve done with the lift is fantastic.”

Fenwick has also set up a large Star Wars section in the toy department, with a variety of merchandise for sale. A life-size Stormtrooper and a Lego Darth Vader are among the displays.