Star Wars fans have geared up for the sale of a selection of memorabilia to be sold by a Borehamwood film props company.

Rare original items from the fictional galaxy have been made available by Elstree Props, based at Elstree Film Studios in Shenley Road, on a specialist collectors' website.

Items include pieces of the Death Star, a mythical planet-destroying space station in the Star Wars films, and a dyeline print of the Death Star trench.

Paul Harrison, who runs the company, said: "The Death Star piece is an original section of the detailing in the film. There were hundreds all fitted together made of high density foam so as the camera flew over it all looked real. Not many of these pieces survived."

Along with this, Mr Harrison is selling an original concept dyeline (a print of a line drawing) created before filming by Joe Johnson, a storyboard artist for the smash-hit films.

The print is of the Death Star trench and was previously displayed on academy award-winning British art director and production designer Norman Reynolds' wall.

Mr Harrison said: "This has a hand-written title on it and all the other drawings were copied from this master.

"Together these items will fetch more than £1,000, which is astonishing really for a piece of paper and a piece of foam, but that's the demand for original pieces from the first Star Wars, and they will look great framed up together."

Mr Harrison's att-empts to sell for £30,000 a lightsaber made for the Return of the Jedi film have failed so far.

The lightsaber was made specifically for Luke Skywalker, played by actor Mark Hamill.

He said: "We have decided to keep that one for a while as it is too hard to let it go but if someone has the money we would reluctantly part with it."

To make a bid for these items go on to www.specialist auctions.com