Luke – we're gonna have company... The Force will be strong at King's Lynn Arts Centre when the venue stages an exhibition of Star Wars memorabilia.

Featuring the personal collection of artist Joe Robinson, it will embrace the world of toys, posters and merchandise connected with the original cult films.

'I must have over 1,000 items,' said Mr Robinson, a 46-year-old artist who is based on the other side of the galaxy from Norfolk, in North London.

'I used to be a complete Star Wars nut, I must have been about 12 when it first came out.

'I used to go round collecting all the stuff, I got most of it when I was a teenager, put it up in the attic and never threw it away.'

Mr Robinson collected giant movie posters, fliers, boxes, badges – along with the eponymous action figures and even more obscure items like soap.

'I'm just a massive fan,' he said. 'I saw all the photos from America of this film over there.

'When I went to see it, the queue was four times round the cinema. When I finally got in to see it, I was blown away.

'This generation don't realise why it was so popular; the things we have today make the 1970s look like the Stone Age. More people had black and white TVs than colour in the 70s.

'I used to be into sci-fi, Doctor Who, Space 1999, all that kind of stuff. There was poor old Doctor Who, in black and white, then Star Wars came along with all the effects, the deserts, the battles.'

The King's Lynn exhibition will be only the second time Mr Robinson's collection has ever gone on show.

He said he was surprised how many people turned out to see it when he exhibited items in Enfield.

'When we had the exhibition in Enfield, people were going 'oh my gosh – I remember seeing that poster and buying that soap bar',' he said.

Mr Robinson admits he hasn't quite shaken off the bug. He added a Lego Star Wars toy to his collection a week or two back, because he liked the design on the box.

One thing he has yet to do is dress up as one of the characters from Star Wars, Return of the Jedi or The Empire Strikes Back.

'I don't do it myself, but I have friends who do,' he said.

Fans in costume will be welcome when the exhibition opens on March 23, taking up most of the arts centre's gallery space off King Street.

There are also plans to stage a mini sci-fi film festival at the centre, with screenings of cult movies, and staff would also like to hear from anyone who has memorabilia which might be of interest, on 01553 779095.