The seaside town where Stormtroopers patrol the beach

The seaside town where Stormtroopers patrol the beachImage source, Neil TrickettImage caption, For years local fans have organised meet ups at the Andor filming location.ByPaul BurnellNorth West Published2 hours agoA Star Wars superfan who moved "halfway across the globe" from the US to Lancashire said she has been amazed at how her newly-adopted home has become a draw for fans from all over the world.Jessica Monger grew up in California not far from the franchise creator George Lucas and moved to Cleveleys on the Fylde Coast in 2012.She was ecstatic when Andor, a Disney+ Star Wars spin-off series, was filmed on the seafront and has turned the town into an attraction for Star Wars fans from across the world. "I still get giddy thinking about it , especially since I grew up in California next to Modesto where George Lucas was from," the 41-year-old said. Filmmaker Lucas scored a global hit when the swashbuckling sci-fi movie Star Wars was released in 1977, creating a cultural phenomenon and enduring franchise.Andor, a prequel to the standalone Star Wars film Rogue One, tells the story of Cassian Andor and his fight against the evil empire.Cleveleys was transformed into the planet Niamos as part of the filming for Andor in 2021.Image source, Neil TrickettImage caption, Many who attend the event dress as characters from the franchise"So I move halfway across the globe and it's right here at my doorstep - yeah, it's brilliant," said Monger, who has lived in the UK for more than 15 years.""Star Wars is just all over the place, especially where I grew up. Since the film crews left, the location has become a magnet for fans thanks to Monger and her fellow Blackpool-based fan Neil Trickett.Trickett, 41, said the pair teamed up on a social media after realising they live near each other and agreed to meet at the filming location in Cleveleys.He added: "We very quickly put a plan together for some kind of free public even...