A LIFE-sized Star Wars character has been stolen from a cinema in Canvey, with a masked man fleeing down the street with the figure under his arm.

The Yoda figure in the Movie Starr Cinema on Eastern Esplanade usually sits next to R2-D2 and Darth Vader, but was stolen on Friday.

Staff gave chase but failed to catch the man, who was captured on CCTV eyeing up the figure.

He can then be seen picking it up and fleeing with Yoda in hand.

Cinema bosses are appealing to the public to help get the much-loved Jedi returned, urging them to keep an eye out across the island.

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A spokesman for Movie Starr said: “Yoda was stolen on Friday at around 16.35pm.

“A staff member did try to chase the thief down towards, but he got out of sight.

“All we ask for is that someone does the right thing and brings him back or if you know who’s got him tell them to bring it back, for our customers to enjoy again.”

Echo:

The cinema have also started the hashtag #BringYodaHome on social media too.

The spokesman added: “The support on our Facebook has been amazing and all we want is to bring our little Yoda home.

“He means so much to Movie Starr, from customers to staff, as everyone has their own little story with Yoda and our customers love to see him for photos and even give him a cuddle from all ages.

“It is a shame that someone has had to ruin this as we know how much our customers love to see these figures.”

Yoda has been a fixture at the cinema since 2015, when the franchise was re-launched with the release of The Force Awakens, and he has been a hit with customers and children ever since.

A spokesman for Essex Police added: “We had received a report of theft between 4.36pm and 4.44pm on Friday.

“If you have any information, you can submit a report online at www.essex.police.uk or use the Live Chat button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm.

“You can also call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Send pictures of you with Yoda before his theft to basildon.echonews@newsquest.co.uk